After months on strike, the actors union recently reached a tentative deal with Hollywood studio executives. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strike came as part of a wider pattern of labor activism sweeping the United States. In Las Vegas, hotel workers at Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International also scored breakthrough agreements this week. Additionally, the United Auto Workers celebrated victories in their demands against the Detroit Three automakers.

Despite these recent victories, labor organizers face significant challenges. Union membership rates in the U.S. have been steadily declining for decades due to a combination of factors, including changes in the economy, employer opposition, growing political partisanship, and legal challenges. Only 6% of private-sector workers in the U.S. are currently union members, a significant drop from the 35% membership rate in 1953.

The current surge in labor activism can be attributed to various factors. The soaring costs of living and rising income inequality, particularly the growing pay gap between workers and top executives, have fueled discontent among workers. The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted these inequities as some large corporations reported record profits while workers struggled with sky-high inflation.

The tight labor market has also given workers leverage to challenge their employers. The unemployment rate in the U.S. is near 50-year lows, with about 1.5 open jobs for every unemployed person. This abundance of job opportunities has led to more workers quitting in search of better-paying positions.

Successes and partial victories in high-profile union fights have inspired organizing efforts across different industries and types of workers. Solidarity among workers from various sectors has proven to be a powerful force for organizers.

However, labor unions continue to face significant obstacles. The decline in union membership can be attributed to factors such as restrictive labor laws, offshoring of manufacturing jobs, anti-union stances from employers and lawmakers, and the rise of the gig economy. The Taft-Hartley Act passed after World War II restricted the power of labor unions, and President Ronald Reagan's firing of striking air traffic controllers in 1981 further weakened the labor movement.

The current labor laws also create challenges for organizing efforts. Workers in industries such as technology and service jobs face difficulties due to the gig economy, part-time work, and high turnover rates. The structure of labor laws, which were designed for larger factories, does not adequately support smaller workplaces seeking to unionize.

Attitudes towards unionization have become increasingly partisan, with politically “blue” states having higher unionization rates than “red” states. Several states have also scaled back union protections in recent years. Despite these challenges, public approval of stronger unions remains high, with 67% of Americans supporting unions, according to a Gallup poll.

Experts believe that young people are leading the charge in the current labor movement. However, they emphasize that a change in policy is necessary to translate the desire for unionization into actual increases in union density. The current surge in labor activism represents a turning point in people's consciousness, but its long-term impact will depend on how this consciousness translates into political action.