“I like unions. I just don’t like my union.” I hear this a lot from workers across the nation. Many express frustration with union leaders who have let them down or treated them poorly. Some have even attempted to make changes within their unions but have felt powerless. They often imagine a better union—one where officials genuinely work to enhance the workplace and help members find more personal freedom.
Interestingly, public opinion polls back this feeling. A Gallup poll reveals that about two-thirds of Americans support labor unions in general, yet only 9% belong to one.
Recent statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics highlight this trend. Even with a marginal increase over the past year, union membership stands at a low 10%, up slightly from an all-time low of 9.9% last year.
It’s particularly notable that private sector unions are facing dire challenges, with membership reaching an all-time low of 5.9%. To put it in perspective, over 20% of private sector employees were union members back in 1980.
This year’s statistics may even exaggerate interest in unionizing. The Center for American Progress noted a 30% drop in union elections in 2025 compared to 2024, as monitored by the National Labor Relations Board. Participation in those elections dropped by 42% in the same timeframe.
As for the public sector, union membership appears stronger. According to BLS data, about 32.9% of government employees belong to unions. However, this increase—less than 1 percentage point—is the smallest since 2024 and the first uptick since 2020. This rise was largely fueled by increases in federal and state employee membership.
Even with this higher level of unionization, it doesn’t translate into a greater number of government union employees compared to the private sector. In fact, government and private sector employees are often represented by the same unions. For instance, the United Auto Workers (UAW) now represents more graduate student workers and postdoctoral researchers than actual autoworkers, with these individuals accounting for about 25% of the UAW’s membership.
This distinction in union membership between sectors likely highlights deeper systemic issues. In the private sector, robust unions can sometimes be negotiated out of existence. Take the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which scored a win against UPS in 2023, pushing for pay raises and benefits. Fast forward two years, and UPS announced cuts, shedding thousands of positions despite previous gains.
External factors like tariffs influence the landscape, but labor unions face their own restrictions. A report from Mercatus Center economist Riya Paragashvili illustrates that while union victories can offer short-term perks, they often lead to longer-term challenges for companies, including job cuts.
In contrast, government unions don’t often face the same threats to their existence. When they negotiate pay raises, it’s usually taxpayers who foot the bill. A recent example includes the Teamsters securing a significant pay hike for various school employees in Los Angeles, even amid the district’s projected $877 million deficit, leading to only a small number of layoffs.
Moreover, public sector unions have become adept at placing allies in power, hoping to leverage this influence for favorable negotiations. Unlike private employers, government officials are not as compelled by competition, adding another layer of complexity.
Despite this, government unions are also witnessing a decline in membership, with rates for civil servants dropping steadily since a peak of 38.7% in 1994. Interestingly, many of those expressing discontent with their current unions are public school teachers.
It’s a bit of a paradox. By aligning too closely with political interests and leveraging taxpayer funds, government union leaders risk compromising the very public servants they’re meant to represent. In 2024, major government unions spent a staggering $650 million on political campaigns, with the bulk coming from union dues. This increasing political engagement seems to have shifted their focus away from the needs of individual members.
Workers are growing increasingly impatient. Many are opting to disengage entirely from unions. Unless these organizations can realign their focus on genuinely serving their members, rather than chasing political gains, the trust between union leadership and its members is likely to continue to erode.
