Are we seeing the resurgence of workers' unions?

This news is a clear reminder that the political divides over unionization may not be the same today as in the 1980s.

Amazon isn’t used to taking losses. The company continues to grow at a massive scale. Amazon’s profits skyrocketed over the last two years as governments locked down its small business competition. 

But Amazon took a big loss in Staten Island, New York on April 1, after losing a unionization vote. Its own warehouse workers voted to unionize by a majority of 55%. Amazon spent millions on consultants in hopes that workers would vote against unionization, as they did at an Alabama warehouse last year.

BBC News described the reaction of lead union organizer Chris Smalls after winning his hard fought battle: “Mr Smalls emerged from the vote count looking tired but jubilant, and popped open a bottle of champagne he was handed by supporters. "We did whatever it took to connect with these workers," he told the crowd, recounting an against-the-odds campaign that started with "two tables, two chairs and a tent" and relied on an online fundraiser for money.”

Amazon Labor Union’s success in Staten Island is not an isolated example of workers’ unions finding success in the United States. A few months ago, 1,400 workers at Kellogg’s food manufacturing facilities ended a nearly three-month strike after management agreed to increased pay and benefits. And Starbucks is also facing a wave of unionization efforts, with 190 stores petitioning for union elections and ten stores already voting to join Workers United.

In fact, it appears union organizers are gaining so much momentum that unionization has become a top concern for Starbucks. Howard Schultz, who just returned to Starbucks as CEO after a five year departure, has shared his intention to push back against unionization. In a town hall meeting for workers on April 4, Schultz declared, “We can’t ignore what is happening in the country as it relates to companies throughout the country being assaulted in many ways by the threat of unionization.”

This news is a clear reminder that the political divides over unionization may not be the same today as in the 1980s. 

In the past, many people saw unions as “leftist” organizations and big business union busters as “right-wing.” But the very corporations that oppose unionization today, such as Amazon and Starbucks, have branded themselves as “progressive.” Executives shrewdly design every BLM fundraiser and email signature with preferred pronouns to project a compassionate image that is exposed as fraudulent the minute workers ask for higher wages.

Meanwhile, on the right side of the political spectrum, where customers aren’t impressed by progressive virtue signaling, unions represent the possibility of hard working families gaining a louder voice to challenge woke corporations.

University of Texas at Austin professor Michael Lind discusses this political realignment in his book The New Class War. Lind argues the decline of institutions that have traditionally represented the working class has accompanied the professional managerial class accumulating more power via bureaucracies. Lind’s historical analysis suggests the resurgence of unions could amplify the influence of working class families today. These families, of course, have a very different set of priorities than Amazon and Starbucks board members.

With this political realignment occuring in real time, it’s difficult to predict what the resurgence of unions would mean for our democracies. But Lind’s The New Class War alludes to some of the potential non-economic benefits to unionization that don’t get enough attention: unions give people a place to belong.

We live during a time when churches are shrinking in many communities. That void is exacerbated by people having fewer and smaller families, as well as two years of pandemic isolations. Workers may believe that unions will provide the community and solidarity that they’re missing in other parts of their lives.

There are no perfect institutions, unions included. But, as politicians and business leaders fail to address the rising cost of living, nobody should be surprised when workers turn to collective action as a means of protecting their interests.