Fri, 10/02/2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the important role of labor unions in the American workplace, which give workers a collective voice. During this crisis, unions have continued to fight on behalf of their members, including for safer working conditions, paid sick leave, and higher premium and hazard pays.
According to the latest data: (1) workers covered by a union contract earn on average 11.2% more in wages than nonunionized peers (workers in the same industry and occupation with similar education and experience); and (2) Black and Hispanic workers get a larger boost from unionization. Black workers represented by a union are paid 13.7% more than their nonunionized peers. Hispanic workers represented by unions are paid 20.1% more than their nonunionized peers.
Given this, workers in all industries have started to recognize the benefits of union advocacy. Organizing during this crisis has been even more important to industries feeling the brunt of the pandemic and social distancing measures, such as teachers and medical workers, who must take on the mantle of self-advocacy as they try to navigate unprecedented threats their physical and economic security.
Even with increasing interest, organizing has had its share of hiccoughs during the pandemic. Labor organizing is traditionally done in person but has shifted to online platforms to adhere to social distancing guidelines, as many employees have exclusively used remote technology to organize. For example, teachers employed by a San Jose charter school system organized and voted to join a union online, including campaigning almost entirely over Zoom.
Organizers have also noticed benefits from organizing online. Organizing meetings over Zoom have higher attendance rates than weeknight, in-person meetings, and organizers feel less threatened that adverse managers and supervisors might be spying on their organization efforts.
While the future of the pandemic is still unknown, this crisis has shown us that workers do not give in to hardship easily and will continue to fight for fair wages and safe working conditions on behalf of themselves and their coworkers.
For more information on workers’ rights during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit MSE’s coronavirus information page at https://www.mselaborlaw.com/resources/coronavirus-information.
