Everybody loves unions
As Labor Day approaches, this email shares new polling on the popularity of unions along with new research and an FAQ on anti-union state “right-to-work” laws, which suppress unionization rates and lead to lower wages for all workers. And “The State of Working Wisconsin 2026” provides updates on challenges facing workers and a policy roadmap for raising wages and rebuilding unions. Register for EPI’s 40th anniversary
Unions are extremely popular
New Gallup polling finds that 71% of people in the U.S. approve of unions, continuing the highest period of favorability in over 60 years. The Gallup polling also showed that unions are favorable across generations and party lines: 89% of Democrats, 70% of Independents, and 52% of Republicans approve of unions.
This is just one of many recent surveys demonstrating the broad popularity of unions. Now is the time for policymakers to pass comprehensive legislation making it easier for workers to unionize. Learn moreDownload the fact sheet
Wages are lower in “right-to-work” states
By Elise Gould and Emma Cohn
Despite the name, “right-to-work” (RTW) laws do not provide any sort of job protection or right to a job. Instead, they are intended to make it harder for workers to form and sustain strong unions.
Our new report finds that unionization rates are clearly lower in RTW states—and since unions raise wages for all workers, that suppression lowers pay for all workers. States with RTW laws are also more likely to have other anti-worker laws and generally weaker labor standards.
As a result, workers in RTW states are paid 6.7% less on average than workers in non-RTW states, more than double the 3.2% wage penalty found in similar research a decade ago. The wage penalty translates to over $4,000 less per year for a median full-time worker and is even steeper for women (7.3%), Black (9.7%), and Hispanic workers (10.0%). Learn more
Everything you need to know about anti-union “right-to-work” laws
By Jennifer Sherer, Nina Mast, Elise Gould, and Emma Cohn
This FAQ answers common questions about the economic impacts of RTW laws and their racist, anti-union origins dating back to the 1940s. The resource also shows the importance of restoring workers’ collective bargaining power by removing RTW laws and other obstacles to unionization. Learn more
State Policy Updates
This 30th anniversary edition of “The State of Working Wisconsin” looks at key short- and long-term state trends including rising inequality and poor job quality for lower-wage workers; “affordability” gaps between worker wages and the cost of living; and Wisconsin state policies that have undermined unions and led to a rapid collapse in the state’s unionization rate compared with neighboring states. Recommendations to reverse these trends include increasing the state minimum wage and adopting other pro-worker union policies to boost workers’ paychecks. Learn more
Essential Labor Day Resources
- The case for tripling union membership
- Fact sheet on the benefits of tripling union membership
- Workers’ resolve drives increase in unionization in 2025
- U.S. employers spend more than $1.5 billion annually on union avoidance
- State solutions to the U.S. worker rights crisis: Rights to unionize and collectively bargain
- The power of unions, in a single chart
Celebrating 40 years as the working people’s think tank
For 40 years, EPI has fought for an economy where every job is good, every worker can join a union, and every family can thrive. Join us as we reflect on 40 years of EPI’s work to advance a future of economic justice and gather with leaders in the movement. Commit to sponsoring our 40th anniversary today! Sponsor EPI’s 40th anniversary
Listen to the State of Working America Podcast
The State of Working America Podcast is part of EPI’s effort to raise workers’ voices to ensure they are heard in the economic policy debate.SpotifyApplePodbeanEPI
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