Bonus: EPI Press Conference with AFL-CIO President Liz Schuler

50 million U.S. workers want to join a union: What if they could?

Imagine if one-in-three private-sector workers belonged to a union.

What would wages, benefits, and working conditions look like if more workers had access to a union contract and the labor movement gained strength to beat back billionaires and big corporations? What would it mean for our economy and democracy? And what policy changes are necessary to enable more workers who wish they had a union to get one?

On Wednesday, July 15, the Economic Policy Institute hosted a virtual press conference with AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler to discuss new EPI research quantifying the economic, social, and democratic benefits of increasing union membership to 30%. Participants also shared a policy roadmap to boost union membership, including offering two new proposals to promote collective bargaining and grow union membership.

Originally held Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Learn more: https://www.epi.org/event/50-million-u-s-workers-want-to-join-a-union-what-if-they-did/ 

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The State of Working America Podcast is part of EPI’s effort to raise workers’ voices to ensure they are heard in the economic policy debate. Core topics include workers' rights, inequality, race, gender, labor markets, education, immigration, and social justice


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Economic Policy Institute

https://www.epi.org