A new report from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) finds that labor unions don’t just improve the economic security of workers covered by collective bargaining agreements, they also promote civic and political engagement that has long-term positive impacts on our communities and democracy.
EPI outlines a strong correlation between higher levels of union density and a range of economic, personal, and democratic well-being metrics. The authors argue that because unions give workers the ability to influence our direct working conditions, this empowerment also facilitates our ability to shape our broader communities, leading to more equitable economic, social and democratic structures.
“High union density is consistently associated with a much broader set of positive spillover effects across multiple dimensions: from higher wages and better benefits; to more equitable tax systems; safer workplaces; stronger public services; and healthier, more inclusive democracies,” the report concludes. “Unions don’t just improve workers’ paychecks—they shape the social and political fabric of the communities they operate in, lifting standards for union and nonunion workers alike, while their political advocacy helps to drive an array of strongly positive outcomes, especially in states where unions represent a sizeable share of the workforce.”