Union Strongholds and Declines: A Growing Divide Across the US
Washington D.C. – A stark geographical and political divide is increasingly evident in the American labor landscape,with union membership flourishing in states that protect collective bargaining rights while dwindling in those with “right-to-work” laws,according to a new report.The findings, released by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, paint a clear picture: where unions are empowered, they grow – and where they are restricted, they suffer.
The report reveals a significant disparity between the 26 states with right-to-work laws – largely concentrated in the South and Central US - and the 24 states (plus Washington D.C.) that actively safeguard collective bargaining. Union density in right-to-work states stands at a mere 5.1%, a fraction of the 14.2% found in states with pro-union protections, which are primarily located on the coasts and in the North.
Economic Impact: A Clear Disadvantage for Right-to-Work States
The consequences extend beyond mere membership numbers. Workers in right-to-work states earn approximately 7% less in wages, even after accounting for regional cost-of-living differences. Moreover, these states experience a disproportionately higher rate of employment discrimination, with 36% more charges filed with the Equal employment Possibility Commission compared to states that protect collective bargaining.
“These findings underscore the critical role strong unions play in bolstering wages, benefits, and fair treatment for workers,” explains david Harrison, News Editor and SEO Strategist at world-today-news.com. “The data clearly demonstrates that restricting union power has tangible negative consequences for working families.”
The Impact of Janus v. AFSCME and recent State actions
The decline in union membership isn’t solely attributable to state-level right-to-work laws. The 2018 Supreme Court decision Janus v. AFSCME stripped public sector workers in all 50 states of collective bargaining rights, further weakening the labor movement nationally.
However, some states are actively pushing back. Illinois, which enshrined the right to collective bargaining in its constitution with a 2022 amendment, has seen a remarkable resurgence in union membership. In 2024 alone,the state added 27,000 union members,bringing its unionization rate to 13.1% – the most significant increase in over seven years.
Beyond Wages: The Broader Benefits of Unionization
The Illinois exmaple highlights the broader benefits of union membership. The report found that union members in the state are 8.3% more likely to own homes, 5.2% more likely to have health insurance, and less reliant on public assistance programs like Medicaid and SNAP.
these findings reinforce the argument that strong unions aren’t just about wages; they contribute to greater economic security and overall well-being for workers and their families. As the US continues to grapple with issues of income inequality and economic opportunity, the debate over the future of unions – and the laws that govern them – is likely to intensify.
Related: Hundreds of staff at California national parks to unionize amid Trump turmoil
Sources:
State of the Unions 2025 Report
AFL-CIO: Right to Work
