The Department of Treasury has issued a report, the first of its kind, on labor unions and the impact on the American economy. The report’s comprehensive look at unions’ role in the economy confirms earlier studies by various organizations that labor unions indeed benefit not just union members but non-union members and the public as a whole. How so?
According to the report:
“The empirical research on unions suggests that middle-class workers reap substantial benefits from unionization,” the report states. “These workplace improvements contribute substantially to middle-class financial stability and worker well-being. For example, one study has estimated that the average worker values their ability to avoid short-notice schedule changes at up to 20 percent of their wages.”
The report also listed a number of initiatives that Biden has done or planned to do to support unionization, such as:
For AFGE and federal workers, there have been a number of things that the administration has done that have made a difference. The overall support for labor rights, for example, has had a huge impact on organizing.
“Each agency has its own culture and priorities, but they still take direction to varying degrees from the Executive,” said AFGE Membership and Mobilization Director Dave Cann. “When an administration is anti-worker rights and anti-union, agencies reflect that. It makes representation and engagement harder, chills union rights and scares workers and endangers activists.
“When an administration supports worker and union rights, it means having a partner in representation, a seat at the table and a voice on the job. Of course, it is easier to do union work without fear of unlawful retaliation sanctioned by an anti-worker administration.”
Biden’s executive orders reversing the previous administration’s anti-worker policies also made a huge difference.
“Getting down to business with federal employees as partners and not adversaries makes a big difference for everybody,” Cann added. “The federal government works better when it isn’t at war with itself. Furthermore, there are decades of studies showing labor-management partnership leads to more efficient, effective and frugal government and better service for the taxpayer.”
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