Why Unions Matter for Justice-Impacted People

    A One-Page Case for Economic Power, Community Power, and Political Power

    Unions Are the Most Powerful Engine of Economic Mobility

    For justice-impacted people, a union job is not just employment — it’s stability, dignity, and a real shot at rebuilding a life. The data is undeniable:
    • Union workers earn more: ~$1,337/week vs. $1,138/week — nearly $10,000 more per year.
    • Health coverage: 95% of union workers have employer-provided health insurance vs. 71% of non-union workers.
    • Retirement security: 95% of union members have retirement benefits; 64% have pensions (vs. just 10% of non-union workers).
    • Paid sick leave: Over 90% of union workers can take sick time without risking their job (vs. ~79% of non-union workers).
    • Built-in community: Unions offer mentorship, peer networks, training, and ongoing support that help people climb and stay stable.

    For someone reentering society, these aren’t minor differences — they are life-changing.

    Unions Are a Trustworthy Institution — Unlike Politics

    Justice-impacted people trust unions far more than they trust politicians or political institutions.
    • Union favorability: ~70% (Gallup 2024)
    • Trust in Congress: ~16%

    Trust matters because trust drives action.

    When a union calls, people listen. When a union asks members to vote, they show up.

    Union households are:
    • 10–15% more likely to vote in every election
    • Majority Democratic: 56% supported Harris in 2024
    • Decisive in close races: Union turnout helped Democrats win Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin in 2022 — all by under 3%
     For the justice-impacted community — which distrusts both parties — unions serve as one of the only institutions seen as credible, consistent, and on their side.

    Unions Offer the Best ROI in Politics — Especially for Justice-Impacted Voters

    Not all votes cost the same to secure:
    • $200–$370 to flip a vote through persuasion
    • $100–$300 to register and turn out a new non-union voter
    • $25–$50 per union vote through GOTV partnerships

    Union infrastructure dramatically lowers the cost of winning elections — and increases turnout from communities that historically sit out.

    For justice-impacted people, pairing opportunity with civic engagement is the formula that works:

    Stability → Belonging → Power → Participation

    Unions + Justice-Impacted Communities = A Political Force Multiplier

    Twenty million justice-impacted Americans can vote today.

    Mobilizing just 2% of them in four battleground states would have flipped the 2024 presidential election.

    Their civic influence extends far beyond individual turnout:
    • One justice-impacted person influences 3–8× the number of friends, family, and peers
    • That’s a network of 60–160 million people whose political engagement can be shaped

    Unions are the fastest, most credible way to engage this untapped electorate — the very electorate that decides governors, Congress, and the presidency.