economy
March 8, 2026
Big Labor has organized its own downfall
These days, unions have more luck organizing press conferences than actual workers.
TL;DR
- Private-sector union membership in the US is at an all-time low, with under 6% of workers belonging to a union.
- The partnership between AFL-CIO and SEIU, aimed at growing membership, has not yet yielded significant results.
- Starbucks Workers United (SEIU) has struggled to secure contracts for baristas, with less than 5% of employees represented by the union.
- The "Fight for $15 and a union" campaign by SEIU has not led to successful fast-food organizing, despite adoption of the wage policy in some areas.
- The United Auto Workers (UAW) faces reputational issues due to corruption and has had limited success in organizing new auto plants in the South.
- Unions are increasingly seen as less relevant in a dynamic and technologically advancing workforce, with AI and automation potentially making union offerings less appealing.
- The article attributes union struggles to bureaucracy, inefficiency, and an inability to adapt to the modern economy.
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