--- title: What Happened to the American Labor Union? description: America's changing economy might have something to do with it canonical: https://time.com/4023296/american-labor-union/ author: Arpita Aneja article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-09-04T17:53:41.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-22T10:42:45.895Z article:section: History og:title: What Happened to the American Labor Union? og:description: America's changing economy might have something to do with it og:url: https://time.com/4023296/american-labor-union/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd5147356fba28299/698862598e06012d22462359/gettyimages-3206086.jpg?branch=production&width=594&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 594 og:image:height: 334 og:image:alt: Construction Strikers og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: What Happened to the American Labor Union? twitter:description: America's changing economy might have something to do with it twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd5147356fba28299/698862598e06012d22462359/gettyimages-3206086.jpg?branch=production&width=594&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # What Happened to the American Labor Union? > Sponsored content. 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They are at time.com/newsletters and are separate from a paid subscription. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-sub-2026q3/newsletters?i=f3832f8a-09df-41e2-8940-ac2a883b0673&cr=time-sub-2026q3-v1) * TIME Subscriptions: [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-sub-2026q3/subscribe?i=f3832f8a-09df-41e2-8940-ac2a883b0673&cr=time-sub-2026q3-v1)  by [Arpita Aneja](https://time.com/author/arpita-aneja/)  ## Arpita Aneja Sep 4, 2015 5:53 PM UTC  circa 1930: Full-length image of a group of strikers from the Construction Workers Union holding signs while picketing for higher wages. (Photo by Lambert/Getty Images) circa 1930: Full-length image of a group of strikers from the Construction Workers Union holding signs while picketing for higher wages. (Photo by Lambert/Getty Images) Lambert—Getty Images  by [Arpita Aneja](https://time.com/author/arpita-aneja/)  ## Arpita Aneja Sep 4, 2015 5:53 PM UTC Labor unions were a prominent part of 20th-century America. But, in 2014, only 11.1% of American workers were members of unions, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. What happened to unions, and why are they a diminishing part of working life? 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