Posts tagged Unionization
Johns Hopkins University research staff begin unionization effort
February 6, 2026 // Unionizing is becoming more common on college campuses. Hopkins’ graduate worker union, Teachers and Researchers United (TRU-UE 197), and postdoctoral researchers’ union, PRO-UAW, both won recognition in recent years. Graduate workers at the state’s flagship research school, the University of Maryland, College Park, are similarly seeking recognition from the school.
Unionizing Set to Fall Due to Economic, Political Headwinds
February 3, 2026 // The number of union elections fell to 1,372 last year, down from 1,938 in 2024. That’s the fewest elections since 2021, a review of National Labor Relations Board data found. Union wins also sank by nearly 27% in 2025 compared to 2024, the first downturn since 2020. That drop in election wins led to the number of new workers organized via NLRB elections to fall nearly 40% year-over-over to just 65,542 workers in 2025, according to the data. Organized labor saw a post-pandemic boom after decades of union membership decline. But new economic and political headwinds, including a more management-friendly NLRB and a cooling jobs market, look likely to reverse that trend.
Colorado Health Clinic Agrees to $1.2 Million Settlement After NLRB Finds Doctors Were Fired Over Union Organizing
January 28, 2026 // Under the agreement, the five doctors will split the $1.2 million payout, which includes approximately $700,000 in back pay, interest, expenses, and tax adjustments, along with $500,000 in front pay in lieu of reinstatement. Two of the physicians will receive roughly $400,000 each, while the remaining three will collect between $100,000 and $200,000, reflecting differences in how quickly they secured new employment.
Caregivers pay SEIU dues for no real union benefits
January 15, 2026 // The caregivers’ union doesn’t have the power to bargain with the Department of Health and Human Services over wages or working conditions. Stipends for home caregivers are decided legislatively. In sum, the SEIU can collect dues, but it can’t negotiate better pay and working conditions — the very reason unions typically exist. At best, it can “advocate” for higher wages, something that is more akin to lobbying than bargaining. So, what’s the point of this union? The only real answer is that this is just another partisan power grab to fill the coffers of its preferred political party.
Jackson Hole Ski Patrol Vote Against Unionization Remains Unresolved After Ballot Challenges
January 14, 2026 // In a social media statement Jan. 10, the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol said the team “has chosen as a group not to unionize at this time,” and that the petition and vote “created space for dialogue and gave new ownership the opportunity to listen and respond.” The patrol also thanked the ski community for its support. Across four voting sessions Jan. 7 and Jan. 8, 74 eligible ballots were counted: 42 against unionization and 32 in favor of it, according to local reporting. A total of 16 challenged ballots have been set aside for NLRB review before certification of the vote can occur.
Democrats will reintroduce bill to do away with second unionization vote
January 11, 2026 // Business leaders argue that the second vote is necessary to preserve the economic liberty of workers opposed to unionization and to stop them from being forced to pay union fees when they don’t want to do so. They also say the law gives Colorado an edge over union states in attracting jobs — one of the few edges it retains as increasing housing costs and regulations now rank the state as having the fourth-highest cost of living and 13th-highest cost of doing business. Labor leaders say the second vote is an already difficult hurdle that is routinely made harder by employers who ramp up intimidation campaigns between votes to get employees to vote “no.” And without the fees generated by union security, unions don’t have the resources to properly represent workers in hard-fought negotiations, leaders say.
Op-ed: Public employee unions facing final showdown
January 5, 2026 // Some have even been caught locking employees in rooms until they sign membership cards, as plaintiffs in one California lawsuit allege. When you’re spending 86 percent of your dues revenue on political causes that only a fraction of your members support, transparency becomes a threat. The $47.5 million workers are keeping this year represents more than a financial loss for unions. It means a loss of power to expand the size government, raise taxes, resist accountability and fund progressive causes and politicians
Amazon Workers Launch Unionization Campaign With Walkout, Picket Line
December 19, 2025 // According to the company, the average base hourly wage is more than $23 for its U.S. fulfillment and transportation employees with total compensation, which includes benefits, of $30 per hour. The company also said that it would be reducing entry-level healthcare costs and copays in 2026, making healthcare more affordable for its employees and their families. “The fact is we already provide much of what the Teamsters are requesting including safe and inclusive workplaces, competitive pay, health benefits on day one, and opportunities for career growth,”
Connecticut highway service plaza workers vote to join union
December 17, 2025 // Workers at services plazas on Connecticut highways have voted to unionize, a month after state officials brokered an agreement requiring the plaza owner to stay neutral in the campaign, officials said.
Unionization Wave Hits Nonprofit Sector
December 17, 2025 // ASeveral key economic factors are driving this current union organizing trend, including inflation and job security. In this environment, employees are motivated to seek the protections that higher pay and increased benefits offer. However, about one-third of nonprofit museums and cultural institutions are also struggling to confront the loss of government grants or contracts. More than half of museums reported fewer 2025 visitors than in 2019, according to a Novemberreport by the American Alliance of Museums. In spite of these conflicting economic difficulties, employees are continuing to push back, feeling that they have been taken for granted for many years. Bottom line: unions continue to seek out new groups of workers to organize as their traditional targets, such as manufacturing and production jobs, wane or move overseas. Nonprofit employers would be well advised to stay engaged with their employees, keep an eye on employee morale, and look for ways to reward employees' hard work even when funds are scarce.