Women make up roughly half of U.S. labor union membership, but representation in top level union leadership positions has lagged, even in female-dominated industries and particularly for women of color.
Data from the U.S. Department of Labor shows that Black and Latina women experience a particularly wide gender pay gap.
Juliana Yamada / APBlack and Latina women are driving labor union growth in the U.S. amid a decades-long decline in membership.
In 2023, Black women’s union membership rate notched a slight bump from 10.3% to 10.5%, while Latinas went up from 8.5% to 8.8%.
Momentum for Black and Latina women rising into labor union leadership has picked up in the last five years.
Persons:
”, Lane Windham, Gwen Mills, María Mata, Juliana Yamada, Black, Latinas, that’s, Liz Shuler, I’m, ” Shuler, Becky Pringle, Bonnie Castillo, Verrett, we’ve, ” Verrett, Emily Twarog, Lisa Lujano, Stacy Davis Gates, ” Pringle, Maria Mata, Mata, “, It’s, Keturah Johnson, Sara Nelson, Johnson, she’s, “ We’re, Coke, ” Johnson
Organizations:
Latina, Georgetown University, U.S . Department of Labor, AFL, National Education Association, National Nurses United, Service Employees International Union, Associated Press, University of Illinois, U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics, Carpenters Union, Teachers, Chicago Teachers Union, CTU, United Teachers Los, ” Hospitality, AFA, CWA, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Frontier
Locations:
U.S, San Francisco, University of Illinois Urbana, Champaign, Chicago, United Teachers Los Angeles, Francisco