Organized Labor: Our Best Bet to Protect Democracy and Build Broad-Based Prosperity

Democracy is not sustained by elections alone. It depends on institutions that cultivate civic participation, defend the rule of law, and ensure that political power is not monopolized by concentrated wealth or authoritarian actors. In the United States, organized labor unions have historically played a central role in that democratic ecosystem. It’s time for them to do so again. At a moment marked by democratic backsliding, attacks on independent institutions, and widening economic inequality, labor unions are uniquely positioned to protect democracy, combat authoritarianism, and deliver equitable prosperity.

Unions do not merely advocate for better wages or safer workplaces, they create durable constituencies with the incentive and the capacity to defend democratic norms and demand accountability from those in power. I have seen this work around the world. I am a lifelong supporter of labor who grew up in a union household, spent my domestic political career working with unions and labor-friendly candidates, and supported the independent trade union movement abroad.

At their core, labor unions are schools of democracy. They operate through elections, collective decision-making, transparent rules, and accountability to members. Research consistently shows that union members are more likely to vote, attend public meetings, and participate in civic life than non-union workers. This matters because authoritarian movements thrive on political disengagement and cynicism. When workers feel powerless in their daily economic lives, they are more susceptible to demagogues who promise order, grievance, or simple solutions. Unions counter this dynamic by giving workers a tangible sense of agency and collective power rooted in democratic practice.

Organized labor has long been a defender of the rule of law in concrete and enforceable ways. Collective bargaining agreements rely on contract law, independent arbitration, and predictable enforcement mechanisms. In doing so, unions reinforce the principle that power must be constrained and disputes resolved through lawful processes rather than coercion or favoritism.

Authoritarian systems depend on selective enforcement: laws applied to enemies but ignored for allies. Unions, especially when aligned with broader civil society, resist this erosion by insisting on fair enforcement of labor standards, workplace safety laws, voting rights protections, and anti-corruption statutes. A society that tolerates lawlessness in the workplace is far more likely to tolerate it in government.

Historically, authoritarian movements target independent labor organizations early. This is not accidental. Unions represent organized, disciplined constituencies capable of mobilizing people, resources, and sustained opposition. Across democratic backsliding regimes worldwide, attacks on unions are a leading indicator of democratic decline.

In the United States, strong labor unions can serve as a counterweight to authoritarian tendencies by anchoring pro-democracy coalitions. They provide infrastructure for voter education, election protection, peaceful mass participation, and civic resilience—activities that reinforce democratic legitimacy rather than undermine it. Crucially, unions can perform this role by grounding their work in democratic norms and constitutional governance rather than narrow partisanship.

This role inevitably places organized labor in close relationship with the Democratic Party. For much of the past century, labor has been the party’s most reliable institutional ally by supplying organizing capacity, financial resources, and a working-class base committed to democratic governance. Yet too often, this relationship has become transactional and unbalanced, with labor’s priorities taken for granted while policy decisions are driven by consultants, donors, and short-term electoral considerations.

To maximize its democratic impact, organized labor must continue to demand more than rhetorical support. That means insisting on enforceable commitments to labor law reform, aggressive protection of the right to organize, antitrust enforcement, fair trade, and economic policies that strengthen worker power rather than dilute it. In turn, the Democratic Party must reform itself to treat unions as governing partners, not merely turnout mechanisms activated during election cycles. A revitalized alliance rooted in transparency, accountability, and shared democratic values can strengthen institutions and better position them to resist authoritarianism while delivering real improvements in workers’ lives.

Democracy is fragile when economic gains are narrowly distributed. Organized labor remains one of the most effective tools for translating economic growth into broadly shared prosperity. Unionized workers earn higher wages and enjoy better benefits, while raising standards across entire industries and regions.

This economic function is inseparable from democratic stability. Societies with strong middle classes are more resilient against authoritarian appeals that exploit economic anxiety and social fragmentation. By reducing inequality and strengthening economic security, unions help create the material conditions under which democratic norms can endure.

For organized labor to fully realize its democratic role, it must continue to evolve by embracing multiracial and cross-sector solidarity and explicitly linking economic justice to democratic values. It must also defend the right to organize itself, a right increasingly under threat.

Democracy is not self-executing. It requires institutions willing to defend it, constituencies prepared to participate in it, and an economy that makes democratic participation meaningful in everyday life. Organized labor unions meet all three tests. Strengthening them is a matter of workplace fairness. It is also an investment in the future of American democracy itself.