1983年時,美國的工會共有1,770萬名會員,工會組織率為20.1%;然而2013年卻僅剩1,450萬名會員,工會組織率僅有10.8%[1] 民營事業單位的工會組織率甚至僅有7%[2],創下1932年來的最低紀錄。與其它國家相比,2013年時法國的工會組織率為7.7%、德國為18.1%、加拿大為27.1%,冰島更以85.5%的工會組織率冠居全球。[3]以統計數字而言,美國勞工參與工會的比例顯著偏低。美國的工會組織率與雖大幅滑落,但仍能透過群眾動員或跨領域結盟(例如與移民權益、貿易政策、健康照顧與維生工資等議題團體合作),對美國政治有一定程度的影響力。其中,美國的工會尤其關注各級政府因預算縮減,產生勞工退休金減少或延遲給付等問題。[4] 如有茶黨背景的共和黨籍威斯康辛州州長(英语:Governor of Wisconsin)斯考特·沃克就曾透過刪減預算限制公部門工會的集體協商權。
19世紀中葉,工業革命對人類經濟、社會帶來巨大變革,勞資關係逐漸受到社會矚目,工會也隨之誕生。美國早期的工會誕生於南北戰爭之後,1880年代的勞動騎士團(英语:Knights of Labor)是美國最具影響力的勞工團體,但因組織鬆散、缺乏有效領導中心和組織目標不一致等因素,並受到資方和政府聯手打壓而解散。
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