American labor unions are flying high. This summer, United and American Airlines pilots signed new contracts with 40% raises. UPS workers recently won a deal that the company says will give them an average of $170,000 a year in wages and benefits. And from Amazon to Starbucks — workers are organizing.
The Labor Party is going through a difficult period – with strong public support. recent gallup poll Shows that 67% of Americans approve of unions, and 61% think they help the economy. And 3 out of 4 say they stand with the United Auto Workers – now on the verge of striking.
Professor James Walsh teaches labor history at the University of Colorado Denver. He says unions are seeing an increase in power due to low unemployment, which has increased demands and anger among workers CEOs and their huge salariesOn average 350 times more than the wages of average workers in their companies.
“There are a lot of workers who feel exploited,” Walsh said. “That wealth inequality has left us in a situation where millions of American workers who work not just full-time, but sometimes double, two jobs, can’t pay their basic bills, and that’s not sustainable. “
Unions are also getting a big boost from Generation Z. 20 year olds striving for the American dream are facing low wages and job instability.
Walsh said, “Young people now enter my labor studies classes with organizing experience, with a knowledge of what a union is, and how it works, and how to get into it. In 25 years in the classroom “I never had anything like that.”
But as unions are increasing their power, membership is declining. Only 1 in 10 Americans are in the union – This is the lowest rate ever. Companies argue that unions increase labor and production costs, create tension between employers and employees and make it harder to fire underperforming workers. Some big labor battles are still ahead.
Hollywood writers have been on strike against major studios for better pay and working conditions for more than four months. The actor joined them in July.
“Employees are feeling some strength right now, not only within their own unions, but also from the solidarity of other unions and other workers,” Walsh said.