The pros and cons of labor unions

The union membership rate in the U.S. was only 9.9% in 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor's statistics, but the push to unionize remains strong in many companies. Unions were also a major point of contention in the 2024 presidential election. But while many people support unions, others have pointed out their shortfalls.

Pro: Better working conditions

Unions can "promote economic equality and build worker power, helping workers to win increases in pay, better benefits and safer working conditions," said the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). Pushes by unions for higher wages seem to be working, as the 17 states with the highest union densities "have state minimum wages that are on average 19% higher than the national average."

When wages increase among union workers, this can often lead to an "improved access to benefits, particularly for women and Black workers," said the Center For American Progress.

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Con: Unions cost money

This is perhaps the most obvious drawback of unions: they're not free. Unions "charge dues to pay the salaries of union leaders and workers during a strike," said Maryville University, and "some unions spend union dues on six-figure salaries for leaders and luxurious headquarters."

Critics suggest this is "unfair to people who might have practical or ideological objections to the union and don't want to comply with requirements to pay dues or fees," said SmartAsset.

Pro: Increased productivity

Unions can boost productivity by "allowing workers to engage in decision-making in workplaces," and they "may also improve business outcomes by helping firms hold on to tenured workers who tend to be more productive," said WorkRise. Unionized workers are also "less likely to express intent to leave their jobs."

Research has "shown that unions reduce turnover, which increases worker productivity," said Cornell University's Scheinman Institute. This productivity boost is "particularly visible in service-oriented workplaces like hospitals."

Con: Less worker autonomy

Union membership often comes with a rise in rules, and this may not always benefit workers. Union employees "enjoy less autonomy and must abide by union rules," said LaborSoft. These rules "may favor seniority, slowing advancement and making newer employees more likely to get laid off."

Beyond this, unions may cause angst among workers based on the choices union leadership makes, because "unionized employees are bound to union decisions even when they disagree," said LaborSoft.

Pro: Safer workplaces

Unions "have long played an important role in improving the health and well-being of workers, and unionized construction sites and coal mines have been found to be safer than ones where there is no union," said The American Prospect. Collective-bargaining agreements "often require employers to provide safety and health precautions far stronger than OSHA's standards."

This is especially true when it comes to places like health clinics and hospitals, where safety is critical. Unions have "historically been involved in creating healthy and safe workplaces, advocating regulations that are monitored and enforced by public health entities," said the NIH's National Library of Medicine.

Con: Unions can go on strike often

It seems that striking unions are a constant source of news headlines, and data supports this. The "number of workers involved in major work stoppages increased by 280% in 2023," said the EPI. Nearly 350 strikes occurred that year, the most in two decades.

These strikes "included workers across the country — from auto workers to Hollywood writers and actors, nurses and public school teachers," said the EPI. Many strikes occurred throughout 2024, and a major port labor deal avoided a strike at the beginning of 2025.