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Workers’ Rights

The Illinois Economic Policy Institute promotes thoughtful economic growth for businesses and working families.

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The labor movement has historically provided U.S. workers with reliable pathways into good, middle-class jobs. Labor unions improve economic outcomes for workers primarily through collective bargaining, which is a process of negotiation between employers and workers that promotes democratic workplaces.

Unions households earn between 10% and 20% more than nonunion households.

95% of union workers have access to health care coverage compared with just 71% for nonunion workers.

70% of Americans as of 2024 support labor unions, with unions for teachers and nurses having the highest approval.

With over 700,000 members, unions continue to play an important role in communities across Illinois. Teachers, police officers, firefighters, construction workers, registered nurses, and delivery drivers all have high unionization rates in Illinois.

Union membership, however, has gradually declined across America due to the spread of so-called “right-to-work” laws. “Right-to-work” laws allow workers to free ride and take all the services and benefits of collective bargaining – such as higher wages, better health care, and legal representation – without paying anything for them. By restricting the ability of workers to join together and collectively bargain, “right-to-work” laws weaken unions.

22% of Essential Workers

are union members in Illinois

African Americans and Veterans

are more likely to be union members

Unions boost wages by 13%

on average for workers in Illinois

"Right-to-work" states have

The Workers’ Rights Amendment passed in November 2022 with bipartisan support—driven by union members, military veterans, and households with middle-class incomes. The Amendment ensures that workers in Illinois continue to earn middle-class incomes, protects workers’ safety, and prevents future legislation that weakens unions and undermines Illinois’ labor market competitiveness.

Illinois is one of 24 states, and the District of Columbia, with collective bargaining freedom laws. Compared with their counterparts in the 26 states with so-called “right-to-work” laws, the people of Illinois have:

6% higher incomes

32% fewer workplace fatalities

5% greater health care coverage