On Labor Day, as Americans fire up grills and watch parades, the question of how to strengthen unions deserves serious attention. Public support for unions is at its highest in decades, yet union membership has dwindled to roughly 10% of the workforce, a casualty of aggressive corporate opposition and weak federal protections.
Workers have always been the engine of collective power, but the legal and political environment shapes their success. It's nice when politicians show up at a picnic and speak movingly about the dignity of work, but the moment demands more than rhetoric.
The Trump administration has been actively hostile to labor, slashing wage-theft enforcement, shrinking the Department of Labor, and packing the National Labor Relations Board with anti-union appointees. With Washington gridlocked and the Supreme Court's conservative majority unsympathetic, the burden has shifted to states and cities. But federal law preempts much of what they can do—New York learned that in July when a court struck down a law expanding state authority over labor relations.
The workaround, labor experts say, is for state and local governments to find creative ways to promote unionization that don't run afoul of federal preemption. One idea, proposed by scholars and organizers, is remarkably simple: governments can literally help workers connect with unions. They can host meetups between workers and local unions, and they can educate the public about how organizing works.
Most workers have no idea how to form a union. A local official—say, a mayor or a county commissioner—could host a quarterly “union fair,” bringing together unions and workers in a particular neighborhood or industry. These events would be modeled on job fairs or health fairs, which governments routinely sponsor. They could be organized by city council members, state legislators, or even a state labor secretary, and they require little more than a room, some coffee, and a willingness to facilitate introductions.
Education is another low-cost tool. California and New Jersey already require workers' rights instruction in public high schools, and other states could follow suit. Governments can also list local unions on their websites, just as they link to other community organizations, and run public service campaigns with QR codes pointing to know-your-rights information. Job centers and wage-theft complaint filings are natural touchpoints for such outreach.
Opposition is predictable. Chambers of commerce may cry foul, and lawsuits are possible. But these actions are not the kind of regulation that federal law preempts. As one labor scholar noted, “Educating workers and organizing meetups are protected by the First Amendment—free speech and assembly.” Even in hostile states, local governments can act.
Some public servants may worry about taking sides, but business interests already enjoy outsized access to government at every level. Helping workers learn their rights and meet with union reps is a modest corrective. And it aligns with the legacy of Frances Perkins, the first female cabinet secretary and a champion of labor rights, whose work remains vital as workers face new challenges.
This approach doesn't require new laws or big budgets. It just requires political will. As the Trump administration continues its assault on workers, including its policy blitz that has hit vulnerable populations hardest, state and local leaders can step up. They can also support federal efforts like the Faster Labor Contracts Act, which would speed up union recognition. But in the meantime, a union fair in a church basement or a library meeting room might be the most practical step.
