US union organizing, and unions' election win rate, is surging, NLRB says
By Daniel Wiessner
July 17 (Reuters) -Unions are filing petitions to hold elections and winning them at rates not seen in decades, according to data released by the National Labor Relations Board on Wednesday, likely a reflection of the agency's adoption of policies favored by unions during the Biden administration.
The board in a release said it has already received more than 2,600 union election petitions during the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30, surpassing the total for the full previous fiscal year. NLRB regional offices have seen a 32% increase in the number of petitions filed compared with this time last year, the agency said.
In most cases, unions are required to seek and then win elections overseen by the NLRB in order to represent groups of workers known as bargaining units.
And unions are winning more elections - 79% this year in cases where they petitioned for an election, up from 76% last year, according to the NLRB. Until a few years ago, unions had routinely won about two-thirds, and as few as 60%, of elections held each year.
The board, which normally releases annual data later in the year, did not provide an explanation for the increases.
Despite the recent surge in union elections, the percentage of U.S. workers represented by unions has remained roughly steady at the lowest levels in the country's modern history. Only about 11% of American workers overall and 6% of private-sector employees have union jobs, compared with more than 30% of all workers in the 1940s and 1950s.
Many experts have said the nationwide surge in union organizing likely stems from the COVID-19 pandemic making people more concerned about their working conditions, and represents a backlash against efforts to rein in unions during the administration of Republican former President Donald Trump.
During the Biden administration, the board has resurrected Obama-era policies designed to speed up the election process, which is generally seen as favoring unions, while also creating a new path for unions to organize workers and expanding the type of worker conduct protected by federal labor law.
The board's general counsel and five members are appointed by the president, but the agency operates independently from the executive branch. The board is generally comprised of three members from the president's party and two from the opposing party, and their five-year terms are staggered.
Catherine Fisk, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, said public support for unions is at its highest levels since the 1960s. Coupled with recent actions by the NLRB that boost union organizing, those positive attitudes about unions embolden workers to form them, whether on their own as thousands of Starbucks workers have since 2021 or by teaming up with established unions like Volkswagen employees in Tennessee who recently voted to join the United Auto Workers, she said.
тАЬItтАЩs a phenomenon that feeds on itself,тАЭ Fisk said.
Glenn Spencer, senior vice president of employment policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the country's largest business lobby, said the new numbers are not surprising given the NLRB's various efforts in recent years to promote unionizing rather than act as a neutral arbiter of labor disputes.
"In fact, the entire (Biden) administration has pushed unionization at all costs regardless of its negative impact on our economy and workers' rights," Spencer said in an email.
One of the board's most recent changes that has drawn the most ire from business groups was a 2023 ruling involving building materials company Cemex that allows the NLRB to order companies that commit labor law violations during organizing campaigns to bargain with unions, even when workers vote against unionizing.
The Cemex ruling also requires employers presented with proof of majority support for a union, such as signed authorization cards, to either recognize the union or seek an election. The board on Wednesday said that as a result of that change, it has seen a 20-fold increase this year in petitions filed by employers rather than unions.
Read more:
NLRB restores Obama-era rule speeding up union election process
Starbucks and US workers' union meet for contract negotiations
UAW wins big in historic union vote at Volkswagen Tennessee factory
NLRB paves way for workers to unionize without formal elections
NLRB issues first order requiring bargaining despite union election loss
Unions poised to capitalize on U.S. labor board rulings that bolstered organizing
Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York
рд╕рдВрдмрдВрдзрд┐рдд рдкрд░рд┐рд╕рдВрдкрддреНрддрд┐рдпрд╛рдБ
рддрд╛рдЬрд╛рддрд░реАрди рд╕рдорд╛рдЪрд╛рд░
рдЕрд╕реНрд╡реАрдХрд░рдг: XM Group рдХреЗ рд╕рддреНрд╡ рдХреЗрд╡рд▓ рдирд┐рд╖реНрдкрд╛рджрди рд╡рд╛рд▓реА рд╕реЗрд╡рд╛ рдФрд░ рд╣рдорд╛рд░реА рдСрдирд▓рд╛рдЗрди рд╡реНрдпрд╛рдкрд╛рд░ рд╕реБрд╡рд┐рдзрд╛ рдореЗрдВ рдкрд╣реБрдБрдЪ рдкреНрд░рджрд╛рди рдХрд░рддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ, рддрд╛рдХрд┐ рд╡реНрдпрдХреНрддрд┐ рд╡реЗрдмрд╕рд╛рдЗрдЯ рдкрд░ рдпрд╛ рдЙрд╕рдХреЗ рдЬрд░рд┐рдП рдЙрдкрд▓рдмреНрдз рд╕рд╛рдордЧреНрд░реА рдХреЛ рджреЗрдЦ рд╕рдХреЗ рдФрд░/рдпрд╛ рдЙрд╕рдХрд╛ рдЙрдкрдпреЛрдЧ рдХрд░ рд╕рдХреЗред рдЗрд╕рдХрд╛ рдкреНрд░рдпреЛрдЬрди рдЗрд╕реЗ рдмрджрд▓рдирд╛ рдпрд╛ рд╡рд┐рд╕реНрддрд╛рд░ рджреЗрдирд╛ рдирд╣реАрдВ рд╣реИ, рди рд╣реА рд╡рд╣ рдЗрд╕реЗ рдмрджрд▓рддрд╛ рдпрд╛ рд╡рд┐рд╕реНрддрд╛рд░ рджреЗрддрд╛ рд╣реИред рдЗрд╕ рддрд░рд╣ рдХреА рдкрд╣реБрдБрдЪ рд╣рдореЗрд╢рд╛ рд╣реА рдирд┐рдореНрдирд▓рд┐рдЦрд┐рдд рдХреЗ рдЕрдзреАрди рд░рд╣реЗрдЧреА: (1) рдирд┐рдпрдо рдФрд░ рд╢рд░реНрддреЗрдВ; (2) рдЬреЛрдЦрд┐рдо рдЪреЗрддрд╛рд╡рдирд┐рдпрд╛рдБ; рдФрд░ (3) рдкреВрд░реНрдг рдЕрд╕реНрд╡реАрдХрд░рдгред рдЗрд╕рд▓рд┐рдП рдРрд╕реА рдЬрд╛рдирдХрд╛рд░реА рд╕рд╛рдорд╛рдиреНрдп рд╕реВрдЪрдирд╛ рд╕реЗ рдЕрдзрд┐рдХ рдХреБрдЫ рднреА рдирд╣реАрдВ рд╣реИред рд╡рд┐рд╢реЗрд╖ рд░реВрдк рд╕реЗ, рдХреГрдкрдпрд╛ рдЗрд╕рд╕реЗ рдЕрд╡рдЧрдд рд░рд╣реЗрдВ рдХрд┐ рд╣рдорд╛рд░реА рдСрдирд▓рд╛рдЗрди рд╡реНрдпрд╛рдкрд╛рд░ рд╕реБрд╡рд┐рдзрд╛ рдХреА рд╕рд╛рдордЧреНрд░рд┐рдпрд╛рдБ рди рддреЛ рдХрд┐рд╕реА рдЪреАрдЬ рдХрд╛ рдЕрдиреБрд░реЛрдз рдХрд░рддреА рд╣реИрдВ, рди рд╣реА рд╡рд┐рддреНрддреАрдп рдмрд╛рдЬрд╛рд░реЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ рдкреНрд░рд╡реЗрд╢ рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдХреА рдкреЗрд╢рдХрд╢ рд╣реА рдХрд░рддреА рд╣реИрдВред рдХрд┐рд╕реА рднреА рд╡рд┐рддреНрддреАрдп рдмрд╛рдЬрд╛рд░ рдореЗрдВ рд╡реНрдпрд╛рдкрд╛рд░ рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рдЖрдкрдХреА рдкреВрдБрдЬреА рдХреЛ рдЙрд▓реНрд▓реЗрдЦрдиреАрдп рдЬреЛрдЦрд┐рдо рд╣реИред
рд╣рдорд╛рд░реА рдСрдирд▓рд╛рдЗрди рд╡реНрдпрд╛рдкрд╛рд░ рд╕реБрд╡рд┐рдзрд╛ рдореЗрдВ рдкреНрд░рдХрд╛рд╢рд┐рдд рд╕рднреА рд╕рд╛рдордЧреНрд░рд┐рдпрд╛рдБ рд╢реИрдХреНрд╖рдгрд┐рдХ/рд╕реВрдЪрдирд╛рддреНрдордХ рдкреНрд░рдпреЛрдЬрдиреЛрдВ рдорд╛рддреНрд░ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рд╣реИрдВ, рдФрд░ рдЗрдирдореЗрдВ рд╡рд┐рддреНрддреАрдп, рдирд┐рд╡реЗрд╢ рдЯреИрдХреНрд╕ рдпрд╛ рд╡реНрдпрд╛рдкрд╛рд░ рд╕рд▓рд╛рд╣ рдФрд░ рд╕реБрдЭрд╛рд╡ рдирд╣реАрдВ рд╣реИрдВ - рди рд╣реА рдРрд╕рд╛ рд╕рдордЭрдирд╛ рдЪрд╛рд╣рд┐рдП рдХрд┐ рдЗрдирдореЗрдВ рдпреЗ рд╕рдм рд╣реИрдВ; рди рд╣реА рдЗрдирдореЗрдВ рд╣рдорд╛рд░реА рд╡реНрдпрд╛рдкрд╛рд░ рдХреАрдорддреЛрдВ рдХрд╛ рдЕрднрд┐рд▓реЗрдЦ рд╣реИ; рди рд╣реА рдЗрдирдореЗрдВ рдХрд┐рд╕реА рд╡рд┐рддреНрддреАрдп рдЙрдкрдХрд░рдг рдореЗрдВ рд▓реЗрди-рджреЗрди рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдХрд╛ рдирд┐рдордВрддреНрд░рдг рдпрд╛ рдЕрдиреБрд░реЛрдз рд╣реИ; рди рд╣реА рдпреЗ рдЖрдкрдХреЛ рдЕрд╡рд╛рдВрдЫрд┐рдд рд╡рд┐рддреНрддрдпреА рдкреНрд░реЛрдореЛрд╢рди рдкреЗрд╢ рдХрд░рддреА рд╣реИрдВред
рдЗрд╕ рд╡реЗрдмрд╕рд╛рдЗрдЯ рдореЗрдВ рдореМрдЬреВрдж рдХреЛрдИ рднреА рддреГрддреАрдп рдкрдХреНрд╖реАрдп рд╕рд╛рдордЧреНрд░реА, рддрдерд╛ XM рджреНрд╡рд╛рд░рд╛ рддреИрдпрд╛рд░ рдХреА рдЧрдИ рд╕рд╛рдордЧреНрд░рд┐рдпрд╛рдБ, рдЬреИрд╕реЗ: рдЕрднрд┐рдкреНрд░рд╛рдп, рд╕рдорд╛рдЪрд╛рд░, рдЕрдиреБрд╕рдВрдзрд╛рди, рд╡рд┐рд╢реНрд▓реЗрд╖рдг, рдХреАрдорддреЗрдВ рдФрд░ рдЕрдиреНрдп рд╕реВрдЪрдирд╛рдПрдБ рдпрд╛ рддреГрддреАрдп рдкрдХреНрд╖реЛрдВ рдХреА рд╕рд╛рдЗрдЯреЛрдВ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдВрдХ, "рдЬреИрд╕рд╛-рд╣реИ-рд╡реИрд╕рд╛" рдХреЗ рдЖрдзрд╛рд░ рдкрд░ рдмрд╛рдЬрд╛рд░ рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рд░реЗ рдореЗрдВ рд╕рд╛рдорд╛рдиреНрдп рдЯрд┐рдкреНрдкрдгреА рдХреЗ рд░реВрдк рдореЗрдВ рдЙрдкрд▓рдмреНрдз рдХрд░рд╛рдИ рдЧрдИ рд╣реИрдВ, рдФрд░ рд╡реЗ рдирд┐рд╡реЗрд╢ рд╣реЗрддреБ рд╕рд▓рд╛рд╣ рдирд╣реАрдВ рд╣реИрдВред рдЬрд┐рд╕ рд╣рдж рддрдХ рдХреАрд╕реА рд╕рд╛рдордЧреНрд░реА рдХреЛ рдирд┐рд╡реЗрд╢ рдЕрдиреБрд╕рдВрдзрд╛рди рдорд╛рди рд▓рд┐рдпрд╛ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реИ, рдЙрд╕ рд╣рдж рддрдХ рдЖрдкрдХреЛ рдзреНрдпрд╛рди рдореЗрдВ рд░рдЦрдирд╛ рд╣реЛрдЧрд╛ рдФрд░ рдЗрд╕реЗ рд╕реНрд╡реАрдХрд╛рд░ рдХрд░рдирд╛ рд╣реЛрдЧрд╛ рдХрд┐ рд╡рд╣ рд╕рд╛рдордЧреНрд░реА рдЗрд╕ рдЙрджреНрджреЗрд╢реНрдп рд╕реЗ рдФрд░ рдирд┐рд╡реЗрд╢ рдЕрдиреБрд╕рдВрдзрд╛рди рдХреА рд╕реНрд╡рддрдВрддреНрд░рддрд╛ рдХреЛ рдмрдврд╝рд╛рд╡рд╛ рджреЗрдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдХрд╛рдиреВрдиреА рдЖрд╡рд╢реНрдпрдХрддрд╛рдУрдВ рдХреЗ рдореБрддрд╛рдмрд┐рдХ, рддреИрдпрд╛рд░ рдирд╣реАрдВ рдХреА рдЧрдИ рд╣реИ, рдФрд░ рдЗрд╕рд▓рд┐рдП рдЙрд╕реЗ рдкреНрд░рд╛рд╕рдВрдЧрд┐рдХ рдХрд╛рдиреВрдиреЛрдВ рдФрд░ рд╡рд┐рдирд┐рдпрдореЛрдВ рдХреЗ рддрд╣рдд рд╡рд┐рдкрдгрди рд╕рдВрдкреНрд░реЗрд╖рдг рдорд╛рдирд╛ рдЬрд╛рдПрдЧрд╛ред рдХреГрдкрдпрд╛ рд╕реБрдирд┐рд╢реНрдЪрд┐рдд рдХрд░реЗрдВ рдХрд┐ рдЖрдкрдиреЗ рдЧреИрд░-рдЖрд╢реНрд░рд┐рдд рдирд┐рд╡реЗрд╢ рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рд░реЗ рдореЗрдВ рд╣рдорд╛рд░реА рд╕реВрдЪрдирд╛ рдХреЛ рдкрдврд╝ рдФрд░ рд╕рдордЭ рд▓рд┐рдпрд╛ рд╣реИред рдкреАрдЫреЗ рджреА рдЧрдИ рдЬрд╛рдирдХрд╛рд░реА рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рд░реЗ рдореЗрдВ рдЕрдиреБрд╕рдВрдзрд╛рди рдФрд░ рдЬреЛрдЦрд┐рдо рдЪреЗрддрд╛рд╡рдиреА рдпрд╣рд╛рдБ рдЙрдкрд▓рдмреНрдз рд╣реИред