The Role of Unions in Elections and Democracy

In recent years, American politics, union organizing, and workplace dynamics have changed dramatically, prompting a reevaluation of unions' role in protecting and strengthening democracy. As one of the most effective institutions through which working people can build political power to countervail that of wealth and corporate excess, unions have long played a crucial role in promoting a strong, equitable democracy. Over the last several years, levels of union organizing and public opinion of unions reached near-unprecedented highs in the U.S. At the same time, troubling signs of democracy in distress — the spread of election misinformation, the continued decline of union density rates, and a growing gap between some union members and democracy-affirming values — raise urgent questions about the current state and potential for the future of democratic institutions that support working people.

This webinar is part of the 2024 U.S. Election Webinar series sponsored by the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. As the United States heads to the polls in November, this series will convene scholars and practitioners to discuss down-ballot issues, election administration, election security, voter trends, and more.