Labor unions were first started in 1881 and now one in 10 workers in America is a member of a labor union, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Being part of a union means pay guidelines and workplace protections, and labor unions can use collective bargaining power to negotiate with employers.
Union membership and laws differ by state, so it’s important to learn how membership works in your region, especially if you’re looking to work in an industry that is typically unionized.
Here’s what you need to know about labor union membership in each state.
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Alabama
Total union members: 1,950,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 9.2%
Right-to-work state: Yes
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Alaska
Total union members: 299,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 18.5%
Right-to-work state: no
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Arizona
Total union members: 2,943,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 5.3%
Right-to-work state: yes
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Arkansas
Total union members: 1,176,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 4.8%
Right-to-work state: yes
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California
Total union members: 16,399,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 14.7%
Right-to-work state: no
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
Colorado
Total union members: 2,564,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 11%
Right-to-work state: no
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Connecticut
Total union members: 1,677,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 16%
Right-to-work state: no
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District of Columbia
Total union members: 345,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 9.9%
Right-to-work state: no
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Delaware
Total union members: 434,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 10.3%
Right-to-work state: no
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Florida
Total union members: 8,702,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 5.6%
Right-to-work state: yes
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Georgia
Total union members: 4,466,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 4.5%
Right-to-work state: yes
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Hawaii
Total union members: 601,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 23.1%
Right-to-work state: no
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Idaho
Total union members: 733,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 4.7%
Right-to-work state: yes
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Illinois
Total union members: 5,694,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 13.8%
Right-to-work state: no
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Indiana
Total union members: 3,049,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 8.8%
Right-to-work state: yes
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Iowa
Total union members: 1,461,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 7.7%
Right-to-work state: yes
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Kansas
Total union members: 1,283,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 7%
Right-to-work state: yes
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Kentucky
Total union members: 1,812,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 8.9%
Right-to-work state: yes
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Louisiana
Total union members: 1,785,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 5%
Right-to-work state: yes
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Maine
Total union members: 573,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 12.9%
Right-to-work state: no
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Maryland
Total union members: 2,784,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 11%
Right-to-work state: no
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Massachusetts
Total union members: 3,397,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 13.7%
Right-to-work state: no
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Michigan
Total union members: 4,320,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 14.5%
Right-to-work state: yes
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Minnesota
Total union members: 2,634,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 15%
Right-to-work state: no
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Mississippi
Total union members: 1,121,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 5.1%
Right-to-work state: yes
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Missouri
Total union members: 2,675,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 9.4%
Right-to-work state: no
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Montana
Total union members: 427,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 11.8%
Right-to-work state: no
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Nebraska
Total union members: 882,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 6.6%
Right-to-work state: yes
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Nevada
Total union members: 1,376,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 13.9%
Right-to-work state: yes
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New Hampshire
Total union members: 664,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 10.2%
Right-to-work state: no
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New Jersey
Total union members: 3,935,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 14.5%
Right-to-work state: no
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
New Mexico
Total union members: 812,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 6.8
Right-to-work state: no
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New York
Total union members: 8,404,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 22.3%
Right-to-work state: no
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
North Carolina
Total union members: 4,331,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 2.7%
Right-to-work state: yes
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North Dakota
Total union members: 343,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 5.2%
Right-to-work state: yes
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Ohio
Total union members: 5,054,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 12.6%
Right-to-work state: no
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Oklahoma
Total union members: 1,583,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 5.7%
Right-to-work state: yes
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
Oregon
Total union members: 1,738,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 13.9%
Right-to-work state: no
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
Pennsylvania
Total union members: 5,575,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 12.6%
Right-to-work state: no
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Rhode Island
Total union members: 479,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 17.4%
Right-to-work state: no
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
South Carolina
Total union members: 2,016,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 2.7%
Right-to-work state: yes
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
South Dakota
Total union members: 387,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 5.6%
Right-to-work state: yes
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Tennessee
Total union members: 2,816,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 5.5%
Right-to-work state: yes
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Texas
Total union members: 11,989,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 4.3%
Right-to-work state: yes
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Utah
Total union members: 1,343,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 4.1%
Right-to-work state: yes
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
Vermont
Total union members:
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 10.5%
Right-to-work state: no
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
Virginia
Total union members: 3,875,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 4.3%
Right-to-work state: yes
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Washington
Total union members: 3,270,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 19.8%
Right-to-work state: no
Image Credit: iStock.
West Virginia
Total union members: 684,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 10%
Right-to-work state: yes
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Wisconsin
Total union members: 2,700,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 8.1%
Right-to-work state: yes
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
Wyoming
Total union members: 235,000
Union members as a percentage of total workforce: 6.5%
Right-to-work state: yes
Want to learn more about workers’ rights? Check out this state-by-state guide to workers’ compensation here.
This article originally appeared on Policygenius and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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