Can unions be for everyone?

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Anthony Masi, professor of Industrial Relations and Organizational Behaviour at McGill University, wants to remind you that unions are here for everyone – not just their workers. In a recent McGill Delve podcast interview, he emphasized unions’ historical role in advancing rights and privileges that we take for granted today. And he highlighted a key mechanism through which they continue to advocate for their members: social ties.

Social ties refer to a union’s connection to other actors in society, particularly social movements or organizations. Generally, a union will form social ties with another party if both their interests align. If an advocacy group wants better protections for workers with disabilities, a union might hop in to support the cause.

When unions engage in this kind of advocacy, Masi calls it “social movement unionism.” And it’s a practice that has led to key victories for both workers and society at large.

“Unions have spearheaded many important social changes that we don’t necessarily associate with unions today,” said Masi.
The minimum wage, the eight-hour workday, the five-day workweek, workers’ compensation. These were first won by trade unions in single workplaces, explained Masi. Then they were extended by legislation to apply to all of society.

Unions have also supported some of the most significant social movements of the 20th century. The AFL-CIO, an American union that currently represents nearly 15 million people, helped mobilize 40,000 union workers during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963. They also provided lobbying support for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 – two landmark pieces of legislation that advanced civil rights in the United States.

On the surface, social movement unionism might seem like a cynical strategy to get a win. Indeed, unions have a mandate to advocate for their workers, and social ties are a way to do that more effectively, Masi said. But that’s not the whole story. These alliances come from an understanding that what benefits society often also benefits workers, and vice versa.

A balancing act

In today’s political climate, union leaders walk a thin line between participating in important causes and losing the support of their membership. Workers want their unions to focus on bread-and-butter issues like raising wages, vacation, and other benefits, and union leaders must support that, said Masi.

But leaders must also look at achieving bigger things by affiliating with other groups. Supporting LGBTQ-related advocacy groups might not immediately put money in members’ pockets, but it could help establish important protections for all marginalised groups, unionised or not.

Plus, with low union membership rates across North America, social ties are an important source of strength for unions, said Masi. Only 10 percent of American wage and salary workers were part of a union in 2024. This is among the lowest rates in American history. In Canada, roughly 30 percent of workers were covered by a union in 2024. Fewer members usually mean less influence. But by aligning themselves with community groups, unions can build a coalition of support to advance key issues benefiting unionised and non-unionised workers alike.

Long-term, by engaging with people outside of their immediate group, unions introduce unprotected workers to the benefits that come with unionisation. Masi spoke about this in relation to the significant wealth inequality in the United States and in Canada.

“When there’s that level of inequality, people tend to want to organize,” he said. “And when they do, it’ll be because they learned something from the unions they’ve worked with before.”

For more on social movement unionism, listen to Professor Masi’s interview on the McGill Delve podcast. Search “McGill Delve” wherever you download podcasts.