Civic Engagement in Decline: Deunionization and a Fifty State Solution?

Abstract

Labor union membership in the United States is lower than in other advanced industrialized democracies, and continues to decline, hitting around 10 percent of the workforce nationally in 2019. National unionization rates obscure important differences across industry, sector, and geography. To better understand the pathways for the future of the labor movement, or to diagnose and describe successes and missteps, structured comparisons matter. This issue of Labor Studies Journal focuses on the role unions play in civic engagement, and what declining membership means for the health of American democracy. At a time when many perceive America as in an ongoing political crisis, what role does deunionization and civic decline play? Where my essay fits into the larger issue is to argue that our understanding of union decline and civic disengagement should address differences that exist at the state level. As union membership declines, it does so unequally across states, meaning that any strategy to engage the public needs to meet individuals in different places. The strength of present-day unions and historical power, ease of unionizing, influence within legislatures, public acceptance, and familiarity with what unions do, all differ from state to state. Yet states are nested within a common national frame, making comparison easier. In this essay, I encourage scholars of labor politics to address a meso-level of political analysis, the politics of labor decline in the states. Political differences across states are especially important in light of increased labor policies in state legislatures and increased labor unrest in state capitals. Overall, literature in political science and labor studies is clear that unions enable political participation. Stronger unions encourage more political activity among members, are able to increase community and legislative engagement, and shift the composition of legislatures. In places with more union members, the electorate shifts to be more economically, racially, and educationally diverse. Expanding who is involved in politics leads to policies that are beneficial to more people. People participate because they receive information from their union (when and where to vote, descriptions of