Economic inequality is greater today than in the 1950s. A tiny number of people enjoy fabulous wealth while millions of people live paycheck to paycheck.

One reason for the escalation of inequality is the declining number of people who are represented by unions. Big business has waged war on unions for more than a century.

But here is what we have learned about unions: Unions built the middle class. Unions were successful in raising wages, securing healthcare and pensions.

Big business continually complained that unions drove up their costs. But even as they have fought unions, they have raised their own compensation as CEOs and top management to staggering levels. Some CEOs are paid more than $100 million a year. But the f ed real minimum wage has languished at $7.25 an hour.

If workers want higher wages, good healthcare and pensions, they need unions.

Margaret Poydock of the Economic Polocy Institute has compiled important information about labor unions.

They are very popular.

Most working people would like to join a union.

People in unions make more money than people doing the same job but don’t belong to a union.

On behalf of the Economic Policy Institute, Poydock has reported:

New Gallup polling finds that 71% of people in the U.S. approve of unions, continuing the highest period of favorability in over 60 years. This coincides with the greatest number of workers represented by a union in 16 years.

The Gallup polling also showed that unions are favorable across generations and party lines.

  • 77% of adults ages 18–34, 74% of adults ages 35–54, and 67% of adults ages 55 and older approve of unions. 
  • 89% of Democrats, 70% of Independents, and 52% of Republicans approve of unions. 

This is just one of many recent surveys demonstrating the broad popularity of unions:  

  • Unions are more popular than big business. People in the U.S. favor unions over big business by more than 16 percentage points—the greatest gap ever recorded.
  • 56 million U.S. workers would join a union tomorrow if they could. 43% of nonunion workers would vote to unionize their workplace if given the opportunity. 
  • Majority views union decline as bad for U.S. Most people in the U.S. say the decline in union density is bad for the country (60%) and bad for working people (62%). 

It should be no surprise that the public views unions favorably: Unions help workers win higher wages, advocate for safer and healthier workplaces, support a thriving middle class, and strengthen democracy by boosting civic participation.  

Now is the time for policymakers to pass comprehensive legislation making it easier for workers to unionize. A new EPI report shows that tripling U.S. union membership would deliver: 

  • 14.5% wage increases for the typical worker, equal to more than $7,700 per year or nearly $270,000 over a 35-year career. 
  • $1.2 trillion shifted into workers’ pockets every year, reversing a third of the growth in inequality since 1979.  
  • Health insurance for 6.8 million more people.  
  • Greater equality and smaller racial wage gaps. Unions raise wages for everyone and help prevent pay disparities, especially for Black and Hispanic workers.  

Read more about the benefits of rebuilding union power—and the roadmap to get there.

If you want a happier, healthier, fairer society, support the growth of unions.