Policy Brief  

Labor Unions and Civic Participation: How Unions Can Increase Member Engagement

In a new policy brief, Tova Wang, Director of Research Projects in Democratic Practice at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation and coauthors, explore how unions help members become more engaged in civic and political life.

A cover photo of the report.

Highlights

  • Unions help foster civic engagement through community, belonging, and shared experiences.
  • Unions serve as “schools of democracy,” giving members practical opportunities to develop and strengthen democratic skills.
  • Digital tools expand union access, but work best when paired with in-person relationship building opportunities that make political action personal and accessible.

In a new policy brief, Tova Wang, Director of Research Projects in Democratic Practice at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation and coauthors Stanislav Rivkin and Eli Melendrez, explore how unions support members to become more actively engaged in civic and political life. The findings demonstrate how community, trusted relationships, leadership development, and collective action can help people build the confidence and practical skills needed to participate in public life. The research also offers useful lessons for unions and organizations working to strengthen democracy from the ground up.

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