The State of the Vote: Unions, Workers, and the Vote
On the first Monday in September, the United States observes Labor Day. Rooted in the late nineteenth century, this annual holiday honors the social and economic contributions of US workers, recognizing how these achievements have led to the nation’s strength and prosperity.
The origin of Labor Day is deeply intertwined with the American labor movement. The first attempt to create a national labor group in the United States occurred in August of 1866, when the National Labor Union was founded. The group lasted from 1866 through 1873, but laid the groundwork for the various labor organizations throughout history, including the American Federation of Labor (AFL-CIO), the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and beyond.
At their core, labor unions and democratic systems share a fundamental principle: both exist to reflect and uphold the majority voice of those they serve. As we celebrate Labor Day, it is important we reflect on the legacy of the workers who have come before us and those who are currently championing the path for future generations.
The Power of Unionization: Wages, Wealth, and Worker Protections
Unions are an essential part of American work culture. They raise wages for workers, fight inequality, promote voter turnout, and serve as the collective voice for an important population in our country. Economically, unions boost wages, reduce wage inequality, improve job stability, and provide enhanced benefits for workers. On average, unionized workers can expect a 10% wage increase in their weekly earnings; women in unions specifically can expect a 7.8% increase. In 2022, the Center for American Progress (CAP) found that union households are about 1.7 times as wealthy as their non-union counterparts, holding $300,000+ in median wealth compared to $200,000.
As a result of unionization, union advocacy, and specifically the landmark Fair Labor Standards Act, US workers today benefit from these essential protections:
- Minimum wage guarantees
- Overtime pay
- Recordkeeping requirements
- Youth employment standards
Unions and Voting Rights: A Shared History
“The labor movement has a long history of supporting civil and voting rights and the Voting Rights Act. We educate union members about the importance of voting rights. We mobilize union members in support of positive voting rights reforms. We advocate, along with our allies at the state and federal levels, for improvements to our voting laws.” – Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO
Extremely versed in representing the interests of their communities, unions already have the capabilities to utilize their infrastructures to organize and influence US political outcomes. As explained by the CAP, many unions already “inform their members of the benefits of democratic participation, disclose which elected officials have provided the most support, and encourage members to vote for pro-worker politicians.”
When unions invoke political action, like endorsing candidates or propositions, they are usually one of the more powerful organizing forces serving their communities. Beyond elections, unions also serve as a powerful means of advocating for the opinions of their constituents, lobbying for or against certain legislation based on whether or not the proposals benefit or hurt workers’ interests.
Some Labor Unions (including SEIU and AFSCME) even have political action committees (PACs) dedicated to using funds to further support their political opinions and positions.
What is a PAC?
A Political Action Committee (PAC) is a means to raise or spend funds to influence the outcome of a federal election, and is thus required to register with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Want to know more? Find more information about PACs here.
From Shelby County to Louisiana v. Callais: Labor’s Response
In the 2013 US Supreme Court Case, Shelby County v. Holder, the Court ruled in favor of gutting the Voting Rights Act’s preclearance requirement. With this, the Court dismantled the law’s prevention mechanism, which required states with histories of discrimination to get federal approval before changing voting rules.
For the AFL-CIO specifically, the Shelby ruling was a wake-up call that they “must always be vigilant to protect our freedoms and rights, and that political extremists will go to terrific lengths for power and personal gain, even if that means jeopardizing our democracy.”
Earlier this year, the court doubled down on its suppressive agenda with Louisiana v. Callais. In this ruling, they declared that race-conscious redistricting remedies violate equal protection, effectively dismantling what remained of the Voting Rights Act’s practical force.
Read more about the detrimental effects of Louisiana v. Callais here.
This Labor Day, it is important that we remain engaged in the fight against the suppression of any and all voices in this country. For all of us, voting stands as one of our most effective tools to continue this fight.
Civitech builds data infrastructure and technology for progressive political organizations, voter registration campaigns, and civic engagement initiatives. Want to learn more about how to recognize and fight against voter suppression? Visit our resource here: https://civitech.io/voter-suppression/.