US Workers Want Unions, Which May Save America’s Middle Class

Brian J. Hale, a unionist and CEO of an insurance business, asserts that employers and workers can align interests, but this will require corporate America to accept—voluntarily or by legal compulsion—that companies can thrive while still respecting workers' rights.

Historically, when union membership was highest, income inequality was lowest, and productivity soared, contributing to the growth of the middle class.

In his analysis for Fortune, Hale argued that as millions of working people struggle with low wages, limited benefits, and insecure retirements, all while corporate profits soar and executive compensation averages $17.7 million annually, a majority of workers now say they want a union.

Workers often ask if they are "allowed" to unionize or if their company will "permit" it, even though the right to unionize has been enshrined in US law for 89 years.

Hale explains that employers frequently exploit the system to prevent unionization.

Corporations spend nearly half a billion dollars annually on anti-union consultants, managers hold mandatory one-on-one meetings to identify pro-union workers, and nearly half of employers threaten workers with job loss if they unionize—some even follow through with the threats.

Despite these odds, union election wins are on the rise because workers recognize the benefits: 10% higher pay, safer workplaces, more secure retirements, and better chances of paid sick leave and employer-funded healthcare.

Historically, when union membership was highest, income inequality was lowest, and productivity soared, contributing to the growth of the middle class. Hale, who grew up in a union family in Tennessee, advocates for these benefits, noting that a strong labor movement helped build a robust middle class.