Unions Rise in Trust Among Americans as Other Institutions Flounder in New Report
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 4, 2026
Contact: Chad Cyrowski, CCyrowski@miaflcio.org, 248.867.9508
LANSING, MI — Each Labor Day, and every day, we honor the workers who built this state and this country. Through their grit and determination, the labor movement won eight-hour workdays, weekends, safer working conditions, the right to form unions, and much more.
Now, just as then, unions are called upon to fight against the greed and corruption of billionaires and corporations — and Americans want in according to a new report.
“Our strength has always been in our solidarity. When we stand and fight together, we win together,” said Ron BIEBER, president of the Michigan AFL-CIO. “Trump promised to lower costs on day one, and now gas and groceries cost too damn much, inflation is running rampant, the job market is weakening, and we’re involved in another endless and costly war. Every billion spent on the war is a billion we can’t spend on those struggling just to get by. Trump lied to and failed the American people. You and I are paying the price. We need people to fight back by joining a union and supporting people that put workers first this November.”
According to the 2026 National Worker Survey, more workers than ever want a union on the job. Among those ages 18–30, 57% who aren’t in a union say they’d join one at their most recent workplace, up 10 points since last year. And trust in unions exceeds trust in either major political party among Americans polled; only their own neighbors ranked higher (75%).
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