{"id":3223,"date":"2022-09-06T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-06T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uniontrack.com\/blog\/?p=3223"},"modified":"2022-12-19T16:34:50","modified_gmt":"2022-12-19T16:34:50","slug":"national-unions-labor-movement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uniontrack.com\/blog\/national-unions-labor-movement","title":{"rendered":"The Changing Face of Labor: The Role of National Unions in the New Labor Movement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ken Green
CEO & Founder
UnionTrack<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

New generations of workers in unexpected economic sectors are revitalizing the labor movement<\/a> in America. And while many of these workers are organizing independently of established unions, the value of traditional unions to the new labor movement cannot be overstated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, national unions, with their vast troves of knowledge, experience, and resources, are playing a vital role in the resurgence of worker organizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only are they supporting those workers taking unconventional paths to organize, but they are also opening their organizations to accommodate workers from historically nonunion industries where unionization is rapidly spreading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

National Unions Are Helping to Grow the New Labor Movement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The rise of the youth-driven labor movement has created \u201cthe most promising moment for unions in decades,\u201d writes Steven Greenhouse<\/a>, a senior fellow at The Century Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to capitalize on this moment and institute true systemic change for workers, the new guard and the old guard of pro-labor workers and unions must work together. Traditional unions need the enthusiasm and energy of the younger generations, while those workers need the guidance of experienced labor leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bringing the two together is critical to growing the new labor movement. For their part, here\u2019s how established unions are encouraging the expansion of unionization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

National Unions are Supporting Grassroots Unionization Efforts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Workers at companies like Google and Trader Joe\u2019s are harnessing the power of grassroots organizing to unionize their workplaces. But many aren\u2019t going it completely alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Quartz senior reporter Sarah Todd<\/a> notes, \u201cthese grassroots campaigns may well need additional help, legal advice, and funding from traditional labor to succeed in the long run.\u201d Realizing this, national unions have stepped in to help independent union organizers win their union elections and negotiate their first contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, Communication Workers of America, UNITE HERE and United Food and Commercial Workers International all provided varying degrees of support to the Amazon Labor Union leading up to its victorious Staten Island vote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Labor Leaders are Lobbying Legislators To Pass Worker Protections<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One area where leaders of established unions can be particularly impactful is in the political arena. By securing legislative victories, labor leaders help ensure lasting change for workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To that end, unions are currently lobbying for passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023, which includes several pro-worker amendments. Some of those amendments<\/a> include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n