You Should Join a Union. Yes, You

Author and journalist Kim Kelly on the power of unions and why you need to join one, now.

By Kim Kelly

American labor activists have become accustomed to wincing whenever a new batch of numbers pertaining to union density or organizing activity drops. The news is seldom good (and often comes as a real kick in the pants). But in July, we were treated to some good news from the National Labor Relations Board, which reported that union representation petitions have increased by 58 percent compared to the same time period in 2021. By May 25 of this year, that number had eclipsed the total amount filed in all of 2021. And while that’s not necessarily the massive leap forward some have hoped for, it’s an encouraging sign of where labor may be headed thanks to the enthusiasm and energy that a new wave of young, diverse organizers have injected into the movement. A recent study of Google trends revealed that searches for “join union” have exploded in the past twelve months, and the latest Gallup poll has revealed that 71% of Americans support unions—the highest point since 1965.

While some may dismiss labor unions as a thing of the past, or assume they only serve blue-collar professions like manufacturing and coal mining, workers in retail, food service, sex work, tech, and white-collar industries are making it quite clear that those old assumptions are stale, out of touch, and just plain wrong. Workers who have the option to organize their workplace and sign a union card should grab hold of it with both hands now, because despite what anti-union billionaires, Republican politicians and corporate union-busters may say, every worker needs a union—and yes, that includes you, no matter what you do or who signs your paycheck.