What Happens When the Fight for $15 and a Union Is Won? Understanding Workers’ Perceptions and Implications for Organizing

The Fight for $15 launched a resurgence of the US labor movement. Little research has examined the impact of unions established through this movement, particularly in the health-care industry, which has faced nearly a century of political hurdles to union organizing. Using longitudinal qualitative data collected with low-paid hospital workers in Pittsburgh, we examine perceptions of their wages and union over the 3 years of their first contract. We found that workers whose wages reached a threshold of $19 per hour described the positive impact of the wage increases, including increased financial security, less stress, and more free time. As a result, many entered an engagement cycle, whereby they became more involved in their union, developed an understanding of the political nature of their challenges, and cultivated solidarity with other workers. On the other hand, workers whose wages remained below the threshold were likely to enter a disengagement cycle, where they became increasingly disengaged with the union, resented union dues, and viewed other workers as competitors rather than allies. As union organizing among care workers continues—including, we hope, expansion to social workers—an understanding of empowerment as a cyclical process can be useful in guiding organizing efforts.