In the aftermath of the Great Recession, labor unions have been steadily declining. In once heavily unionized industries like mining and auto making, union membership has fallen from 35% to 10% in just a few decades. These statistics are especially troubling because unions have historically provided a check on management excesses and helped counterbalance the influence of capital markets. As a result, many have argued that this erosion of organized labor is one of the primary reasons for the persistent rise in inequality. 

The collapse of the economy during and after the global COVID-19 pandemic also had a distinct impact on union membership — in some industries more than others.

Read the full article on how COVID affected labor unions on our sister site, the Village Voice, here.

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