Although they’re most famous for bringing us the weekend, labor unions help workers organize their labor efforts so they can negotiate as a single entity rather than individuals. Workers in a particular industry, trade, or company form labor unions to improve aspects of their working conditions, such as pay or benefits.
Hours of research by our editors, distilled into minutes of clarity.
The weekend is one of many benefits shaped by labor unions. These organizations, representing millions of workers, have influenced much of modern work life, from wages to safety standards. With roots stretching back to the 18th century, unions have long been at the center of change in labor rights.
While there are many different types of labor unions, they are, generally speaking, organizations workers form to improve aspects of their working conditions, such as vacation time or discipline processes.
Child labor was widespread until the formation of the National Child Labor Committee, which hired photographer Lewis Hine to document conditions. His images spurred reform efforts like the Keating-Owen Act in 1916, which was overturned by the Supreme Court. Progress came in 1938 with the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Maybe you’ve heard of the Teamsters, the trucking union that's among the most well-known labor unions in the US. But you might not have heard of the National Association of Letter Carriers. As it turns out, there can be a union for almost every profession, no matter how niche.
Starting a union within a workplace is a long, complicated process. There are many steps to take depending on how management reacts to each decision workers make during the proceedings. If you’re interested in helping your workplace unionize—or curious about what the journey to unionization looks like—this video can help.
That year, journeymen tailors went on strike to protest a wage reduction. By 1794, cobblers in Philadelphia formed the nation’s first trade union, the Federal Society of Journeymen Cordwainers. But that’s just the beginning of labor union history in the US.
In 1983, for comparison, 20.1% of the US workforce was unionized, or 17.7 million people.
Founded in 1794, the Federal Society of Journeymen Cordwainers (who were leather workers and cobblers) is considered to be the first union in the United States.
Hear an interview with Harvard Law School employee and labor law expert Sharon Block about how the parallel motivations of workers, employers, and government officials led to the creation of the National Labor Relations Act.
Some union critics argue labor unions create unease between workers and their supervisors—partly because those supervisors are prohibited from joining unions. The National Labor Relations Act created that distinction between workers and their managers due to potential supervisor bias (think: pressure from company shareholders to vote differently in union elections).
The United States is home to more than 33 million businesses, the vast majority of which are small businesses, with millions being created (and others closing shop) every year. These businesses often rely on loans, provide the goods and services that keep the economy flowing, and sometimes even grow large enough to enter public markets or provide private investment opportunities. Explore key topics central to business and finance, from the role of the Federal Reserve to how initial public offerings work, how millions of American students finance higher education, and more.