Unionization Petitions Increased Dramatically Under Biden

Petitions for union representation have doubled during President Joe Biden’s time in office, marking the first major uptick in unionization efforts since the 1970s, according to the National Labor Relations Board on Tuesday.
Data from the National Labor Relations Board show that 3,286 petitions were filed with the government in fiscal 2024, a sharp rise from 1,638 in 2021. This represents a significant shift after decades of stagnation and a decline in petitions during former President Donald Trump’s tenure in the White House.
The resurgence in union activity has not been seen at this scale since the administration of Gerald Ford, which ended 48 years ago. Under Trump, petitions decreased by 22 percent, signaling a sharp contrast between the two administrations’ approaches to labor issues, a sentiment Biden has noted.
In a statement, Biden framed this surge in unionization petitions as a direct outcome of his administration’s pro-worker policies in contrast to Trump, the current Republican nominee who is vying to return to the White House in November’s election.
“After the previous administration sided with big corporations to undermine workers—from blocking overtime pay protections to making it harder to organize—my Administration has supported workers,” Biden said. “Because when unions do well, all workers do well and the entire economy benefits.”
Biden’s administration has notably reversed several key policies from Trump’s presidency, aiming to make it easier for workers to organize and secure fair labor practices.
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email on Tuesday for further comment.
News of the National Labor Relations Board data comes as Vice President Kamala Harris is also leaning heavily on union support to help turn out voters as she campaigns as the Democratic candidate in the upcoming presidential election.
However, Trump’s push for tariffs on foreign imports has a blue collar appeal that for some unionized workers has been a note of significance.
Union voters, a critical demographic, could hold the key to tight electoral races in swing states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.
Battleground states will play a key role in determining the result of this year’s election due to the Electoral College, which awards each state a certain number of electoral votes based on population. A presidential candidate needs to secure 270 electoral votes for victory, and winning the national popular vote does not guarantee success.
Although union households only made up 16 percent of voters in the 2020 election, Biden captured 56 percent of their votes compared to Trump’s 42 percent, according to AP VoteCast.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.