A report from the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies highlights a significant increase in successful union elections in the private sector, with over 75% of organizing attempts resulting in victories from mid-2023 to mid-2024. This surge is driven by young and college-educated workers in a tight labor market, with growth in election petitions reversing a decade-long decline. The report notes successful organizing efforts among academic and healthcare workers in New York, and attributes the growth in union activity to the persistently tight labor market and the leverage of highly credentialed workers. Despite this increase in union favorability, there has been a continued decline in union membership over the past two decades.
In the past year, there has been a notable increase in successful union elections, with over 75% of private-sector organizing attempts resulting in victories. This surge has been mainly driven by young people and college-educated workers in response to the tight labor market and pandemic-era challenges. The CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies’ annual State of the Unions report highlights this trend, indicating a significant rise in union representation elections compared to the past decade.
The report reveals that the number of election petitions filed with the National Labor Relations Board has reached a level not seen since 2015, with win rates surpassing those of the past two decades. Notably, New York has seen a spike in organizing efforts, particularly among academic and healthcare workers. For example, non-tenure track faculty at New York University recently voted to join the United Auto Workers, reflecting the broader trend of successful union campaigns across various sectors, including retail and hospitality.
This increase in union activity is further evidenced by large-scale strikes in industries like automobile and film production, indicating a sustained interest in union representation post-pandemic. The heightened interest in unions is attributed to a combination of factors, including the tight labor market and the bargaining power of highly skilled workers. This has emboldened union supporters, particularly in professions like nursing, where skilled workers are in high demand.
Despite the positive momentum in union organizing, there is still a decline in overall union membership nationwide. While public support for unions is at a generational high, the number of union members in New York and across the country continues to decrease. Factors such as economic conditions and changing demographics have contributed to this trend, posing challenges to maintaining and growing union membership levels.
The report also highlights the need for reforms in federal labor laws to address the imbalance in power between employers and workers. The NYC Central Labor Council has raised concerns about the methodology of the CUNY report, emphasizing ongoing challenges faced by unions in advocating for workers’ rights and fair labor practices.
In conclusion, the recent surge in successful union elections reflects a growing interest in union representation among workers, particularly in response to economic uncertainties and labor market dynamics. While there are positive developments in union organizing, there are also persistent challenges that need to be addressed to ensure the long-term sustainability of labor rights and protections for workers.
Source: TheCity.NYC
