New research from Cornell University reveals that a company’s position on unions significantly influences its workforce and can affect worker productivity. Unions have gained popularity, with 16.5 million workers represented by a union in 2025, marking the highest percentage of the workforce in 16 years. As workers have launched prominent union campaigns at major companies like Starbucks and Amazon, some employers have actively resisted these efforts, becoming more vocal in their opposition to unions. This dynamic between workers seeking union representation and employers resisting it highlights the ongoing debate over the role of unions in the modern workplace and their impact on employee satisfaction and productivity.
QUESTION: How might the increasing popularity of unions influence the future job market and working conditions for your generation?
Would you work harder if you knew your boss was anti-union?
