The Importance of Union Advocacy for the American Dream

This Labor Day serves as a reminder that everyone in the United States deserves a fair chance at the American dream: securing a good job with fair wages capable of supporting a family and retiring with dignity. Many families, however, find themselves stretching their paychecks to cover essential expenses such as groceries, rent, healthcare, and utilities. About four in ten adults cannot manage a $400 emergency expense with readily available funds.

For Black workers and other workers of color, the pursuit of this dream is becoming more challenging. Although Black unemployment reached historic lows in 2023, a decline is evident once again. In the year’s first half, Black unemployment climbed back to 7 percent, with Black workers facing unemployment at twice the rate of their white counterparts.

The Federal Reserve reported that only 60 percent of Black adults felt financially comfortable in 2025, a drop from the previous year, with Black adults also experiencing increased job losses.

The gap between wealth at the top and the rest of the population widens, as shown by recent trends.

According to the AFL-CIO’s Executive Paywatch report, the average compensation for an S&P 500 CEO reached $22.8 million in 2025, marking a 21 percent increase from the previous year, excluding Elon Musk’s staggering $158.3 billion pay package. This widening economic inequality stems from deliberate policy decisions, like weakened labor laws, which make union formation more difficult.

The rich and powerful have an interest in preventing a strong labor movement. Historically, unions have challenged corporate elites and fought for both economic and racial justice. These struggles are intertwined, as true equality requires that working individuals have opportunities for advancement.

Growing up on Chicago’s South Side illustrated the impact a union can have for Fred Redmond. His mother worked as a domestic worker traveling by bus to suburban homes. His father accepted various jobs, including pumping gas and stocking shelves, to support their family. One union job at an aluminum mill changed their lives, offering more security and opportunities.

This union job allowed his parents to construct a middle-class life, providing Fred and his siblings an understanding of union benefits: better pay, affordable healthcare, retirement security, safer conditions, fair treatment, and a voice at work. These lessons followed him into his work as a steelworker and remain impactful.

Millions of union families grasp these benefits, as unions foster equity and opportunity, reflected in workers’ paychecks. Union membership results in significant wealth gains for Americans, especially families of color and working-class families. Black workers in unions earn 12.6 percent more than their nonunion peers, while Latino workers earn 16.4 percent more.

Currently, about two-thirds of union members are women or people of color, with Black workers having the highest unionization rate among major racial or ethnic groups. In 2025, workers of color played a significant role in the growth of union representation.

More workers are choosing unions, leading to a rise of 463,000 in union representation, totaling 16.5 million by 2025—the highest in 16 years. Workers see the benefits of unions and remain determined to ensure everyone wishing to organize and join can do so.

In the upcoming fall, the focus extends beyond workplaces. Union volunteers will reach out to millions of union voters through various methods, central to the AFL-CIO election program. At a time when AI advertising and billionaire-funded messages dominate, personal interactions offer unmatched influence. Union members engage daily in discussions about what matters to them and their families, driving the labor movement.

Fred Redmond’s longstanding experience in the labor movement, spanning over 50 years, reinforces the belief that collective support is crucial. This belief enabled his family to achieve a fair shot at the American dream and helped generations of Black workers and diverse working people build America’s middle class.

Fred Redmond is the AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer and the highest-ranking African American labor official in history, representing 65 unions and nearly 15 million workers.

The perspectives presented in this article represent Fred Redmond’s personal views.