As autoworkers, baristas, package carriers, Hollywood writers and actors, and thousands of other workers fight for and win new unions and new union contracts, Biden administration appointees to the nation’s front-line labor law enforcement agency—the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)—are helping prevent anti-union employers from undermining worker organizing. Workers in the United States face an uphill battle in their fight to unionize and bargain, as broken federal labor laws and rampant lawbreaking undermine their efforts. However, workers today are organizing and winning union elections at a growing rate.
New analysis from the Center for American Progress shows that the NLRB is helping ensure that workers can exercise their legal right to come together in unions. More workers are winning their elections and receiving assistance when fired illegally for protected organizing activity. These gains are under threat from The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025—a playbook with strategies for eroding checks and balances across the government that offers instructions for gutting the NLRB’s enforcement capacity. This would threaten workers’ ability to come together in unions to bargain for better wages and working conditions.
According to CAP analysis of NLRB elections data, workers today have a better chance of winning their union representation election than at any point in the past 15 years, with a win rate of more than 70 percent. After a decline in the number of elections under the Trump administration, workers are back to holding more than 1,700 elections for union representation every year. In 2023 alone, 115,000 workers voted in union elections—the largest number in a decade.
The trend over several decades has been a weakening of labor law favoring corporations trying to bust unions. Businesses can use various legal tactics to persuade workers against unionizing or even resort to illegally firing those who try to organize colleagues since monetary penalties for breaking the law are nonexistent. Corporations employ professional “union avoidance” consultants who charge top dollar for services designed to prevent union formation.
Project 2025's policy playbook offers instructions on how future administrations could weaken the NLRB’s enforcement capacity by firing key agency leaders, making it easier to decertify unions, and closing off established ways of forming unions. Under Biden administration appointees' leadership, however, the NLRB has taken steps forward rather than backward on worker organizing issues.
In 2023, the union win rate in NLRB elections broke 70 percent for the first time in 15 years. The percentage of elections where workers voted for a union has generally been around 64 percent since 2008 but climbed from 65.2 percent in 2020 to over 73 percent so far in 2024.
Not only are more workers likely winning their union election today compared with previous years but there are also more elections being held—reaching prepandemic levels again by surpassing past figures with nearly 1,777 total elections held last year alone.
The number of participating voters increased significantly as well: marking over100k participants since2017; during this same period major strikes occurred including60k Screen Actors Guild-American Federation Television Radio Artists(SAG-AFTRA) members going on strike alongside46k United Auto Workers(UAW) members striking Ford Stellantis General Motors achieving new contracts;300k Teamsters covered under UPS contract agreement too—all contributing towards heightened engagement levels among employees nationwide
During previous administrations’ tenure(s), attempts were made restricting student-workers private colleges universities from joining/unions but rescinded later allowing approximately45K students forming/joining such groups instead—additionally changes affecting independent contractor classifications enabling broader inclusion workforce previously excluded benefits protections now available them too
Despite challenges faced budgetary constraints limited resources impacting overall efficacy enforcing compliance standards set forth within existing frameworks governing workplace relations policies regulations enforced through agencies like NRLB significant strides achieved recent times ensuring fairer treatment employees seeking betterment via collective bargaining processes implemented accordingly
Under leadership General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo appointed specifically tasked rebuilding America middle class efforts undertaken aggressively targeting violators bringing about positive outcomes reflected increased reinstatement offers illegally terminated personnel instances reaching record highs exceeding those seen prior administrations combined
NRLB pursued high-profile cases against large corporations such as Starbucks Amazon alleging violations related employee rights resulting favorable rulings mandating corrective actions taken rectify situations arising non-compliance observed practices employed during respective periods scrutinized thoroughly adjudicated appropriately addressing grievances raised affected parties involved directly indirectly impacted circumstances surrounding events transpired ultimately leading resolutions deemed just equitable manner possible given context prevailing conditions existing environment operating therein contemporaneously
Efforts extend beyond mere litigation encompassing rulemaking case rulings interagency collaborations aimed modernizing simplifying procedures facilitating smoother transitions towards achieving goals outlined mission statements guiding principles underlying operations conducted behalf stakeholders concerned interests represented duly considered weighed balanced judiciously ensuring optimal outcomes realized benefit all concerned parties equitably fairly transparently accountable manner consistent ethical standards upheld rigorously maintained throughout entirety proceedings undertaken course duties performed capacities assigned designated roles fulfilled responsibilities discharged diligently conscientiously adhering highest levels professionalism integrity demanded positions held occupied respective incumbents entrusted tasks delegated them executing mandates received discharging obligations incumbent upon fulfilling expectations placed upon shoulders faithfully dutifully honorably deserving trust confidence reposed them exercising authorities vested offices occupied tenure serving therein
Conclusively while current trajectory indicates positive developments ongoing endeavors spearheaded NRLB aligned popular sentiment administrative directives supporting empowering protecting organized labor movements potential risks posed future reversals highlighted Project2025 underscore necessity vigilance maintaining momentum gained safeguarding hard-won victories preserving advances achieved thus far ensuring continued progress made furtherance cause championed tirelessly advocates dedicated advancing welfare working-class communities nationwide globally alike striving create better equitable inclusive societies envisioned aspired towards collectively shared aspirations common good ultimate objective pursued relentlessly unceasingly unwavering commitment ideals principles cherished deeply valued universally acknowledged respected recognized appreciated comprehensively extensively widely across diverse constituencies engaged actively collaboratively participatory fashion endeavoring 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