4 Union Trends

Unions have made plenty of news lately, from strikes in various sectors last year to the contentious dockworkers' walkout this year, all while going through significant shifts. (Vox)

Trending right: Democratic share of the union vote fell from 66% in 2012 to 53% in 2016.

• In 2020, Joe Biden won 60% of union voters, regaining some lost ground.

• But the latest polls show Kamala Harris is winning just 50% of union members, while 43% of union voters back Donald Trump.

Shrinking membership: In 1983, 20.1% of U.S. workers were union members; by 2023, that number dropped to just 10.0%.

Increased support: Public approval of unions has been steadily ticking up for more than a decade and reached a near peak this year.

A spike in activity: The number of workers going on strike has been rising the past few years.

One big question: With Republicans courting blue-collar workers and Democrats leaning on educated elites, will we continue to see rank-and-file union members leaving the left?