Union Density in 2023---A report from the Oregon AFL-CIO

The following report has been issued by the Oregon AFL-CIO. This is an important and short read. Perhaps the messages from the numbers given here are that the enthusiasm we're feeling is justified but that this is not a moment to rest and that there are systemic barriers to building our labor movement that have to be---and can be---overcome.

Yesterday, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its annual report on union density. The report shows that national union membership grew by 139,000 in 2023. Union membership in the private sector increased by 191,000 members, and the majority of new members are under the age of 45. The increases in membership are part of a strong resurgence of organized labor which also resulted in over 900,000 union members winning double-digit wage increases through new contracts last year.

In Oregon, we saw a decrease in our density numbers as well and it’s important that we understand and communicate clearly about what impacts these figures:

We are seeing higher rates of vacancies in public sector employers, with nearly one-fifth of state positions vacant as of April 2023.

We have a high rate of employment in Oregon, with July 2023 seeing Oregon’s non-agricultural employment surpass 2 million workers for the first time in state history.

While union organizing efforts were 10% higher in Fiscal Year 2023 than the previous year, the rate of workers joining labor unions was not as high as job growth and numerous vacancies in the public sector.

Additionally, the BLS report does not include workers who have yet to bargain a first contract which discounts a significant portion of newly organized workers.

As Oregon Labor, we know that numbers are only one part of a complicated story. We have seen a resurgence of support and enthusiasm for unions that has not been seen in generations. With organizing and collective bargaining victories already stacking up in 2024, the Oregon Labor Movement is poised and ready to carry the momentum we built last year to make this year even stronger for working people.

In 2023, unions in Oregon garnered attention and fueled inspiration among workers statewide through a series of strikes, successful organizing drives, and victorious contract negotiation campaigns. These efforts, which President Trainor acknowledged, not only bolstered the labor movement across the state but also established a precedent for solidarity and collective action, leaving a lasting impact on the workforce. The achievements of Oregon unions sparked a renewed sense of empowerment among workers, fostering a culture of activism and advocacy for improved working conditions.

To learn more about the annual BLS data, as well as see statistics and high water marks that the report does not include, please visit our website to read our latest press release on this topic.

In Solidarity,

Graham Trainor
President, Oregon AFL-CIO
He/Him/His