A ULA Network Legal & Policy Summary
In a year marked by political uncertainty and aggressive attacks on collective bargaining rights, working people across the United States demonstrated extraordinary resolve. According to a February 18, 2026 report by the Economic Policy Institute, 16.5 million workers were represented by a union in 2025—an increase of 463,000 workers from 2024 and the highest total in 16 years.
For the ULA Network and our partners across the union labor community, this data reinforces what we see every day: working families are seeking stronger representation, greater workplace voice, and economic stability in uncertain times.
The data, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, confirms both a rise in union representation levels and a stabilization in union density.
Notably, federal worker union density rose from 29.9% to 31.1%—the largest single-year increase since 2011—even as federal employment declined.
For organizations like the ULA Network, which works closely with public-sector unions and benefit funds, this growth signals that workers are turning toward collective representation as a safeguard during periods of political and economic volatility.
While some traditionally blue-collar industries experienced declines (including manufacturing and transportation), construction posted substantial gains in union coverage in 2025.
For the ULA Network’s building trades partners—including IBEW, BAC, Teamsters, IUOE, and others—this underscores:
Construction remains a pillar of middle-class opportunity and economic development—especially when supported by Project Labor Agreements, apprenticeship programs, and prevailing wage protections.
The most striking statistic in the report:
43% of nonunion workers would vote to unionize if given the opportunity.
With 130.2 million nonunion wage and salary workers in 2025, that equates to approximately 56 million workers who want union representation but do not currently have it.
This gap reflects structural barriers in federal labor law—not lack of interest.
For the ULA Network Foundation’s workforce initiatives and veteran pathway programs, this reinforces the need to:
Union approval has remained high since 2021, with over 68% of Americans viewing unions favorably (Gallup 2025).
Favorability spans generations and political affiliations:
The cultural narrative around unions has shifted. Organized labor is increasingly viewed as a stabilizing economic force rather than a relic of the past.
The data confirms what union families have long understood:
High-union-density states demonstrate:
For ULA Network partners, this reinforces the union model as not only a workplace structure—but a community development engine.
The report notes that 2025’s growth occurred amid executive actions restricting collective bargaining rights for federal workers.
Unions responded through:
The resilience shown in 2025 highlights a core truth:
When workers organize, they create economic stability—even in politically unstable environments.
The report outlines several policy reforms that would strengthen organizing rights:
For organizations like the ULA Network, policy advocacy remains central to protecting apprenticeship pipelines, benefit funds, and long-term workforce sustainability.
The 2025 unionization increase is not a statistical anomaly. It reflects:
As the ULA Network continues to support, educate, and promote union labor, these findings validate our mission:
Union labor remains one of the strongest pathways to economic mobility, workforce development, and community prosperity in America.
This summary is based on the February 18, 2026 report, “Workers’ resolve drives increase in unionization in 2025,” by Celine McNicholas, Margaret Poydock, and Heidi Shierholz, published by the Economic Policy Institute, with supporting data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Union Labor Advisory Network (ULAnetwork) is a mission-driven media and workforce development platform dedicated to supporting, educating, and promoting union labor and the communities it serves. Through strategic storytelling, charitable initiatives, apprenticeship awareness, veterans programming, and cross-sector partnerships, ULAnetwork advances high-road economic development models rooted in strong union careers.
The ULA Network is dedicated to honoring the strength and solidarity of union labor by educating, connecting, and empowering individuals through shared experiences, opportunities, and support. Our mission is to uplift families and communities by promoting the value of union careers, economic development, and workforce resilience. Through collaboration and storytelling, we aim to build a future where every person understands the power of unity, dignity in work, and the promise of a better tomorrow. http://www.ulanetwork.com Subscribe to the ULA Network for more interviews, insights, and inspiration about union labor, skilled trades, and the opportunities waiting for you in the construction industry!
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