Are modern labor unions experiencing a true comeback or just a temporary moment?
While high-profile strikes in Hollywood and visits from President Biden suggest a union resurgence, the underlying statistics and historical trends tell a much more complex story of long-term decline.
The video explores the tension between recent visibility—such as successful organizing at Amazon and Starbucks—and the broader reality of declining membership. It examines the impact of recent labor agreements involving the WGA and SAG-AFTRA, alongside the political landscape in the US.
The context extends to the UK, where a new employment rights bill aims to reverse decades of decline. Since the late 1970s, successive UK governments have implemented laws to restrict union power, from Margaret Thatcher's restrictions on strike action to more recent mandates regarding minimum service levels and strike notice periods.
