A new study co-led by Algernon Austin of the Center for Economic and Policy Research and Kate Bronfenbrenner of Cornell University has analyzed the experiences of Black Workers in the southeastern United States and their attitudes towards unions.
With support from scholars at Clark Atlanta University, Jackson State University, the University of North Texas-Dallas, Clinton College, and Tougaloo College, the study authors examined survey data on a range of industries, occupations, and unions in the South, all with a majority of Black workers. Over 70 percent of the survey participants were Black, and 48 percent of all respondents and 57 percent of Black respondents were union members.
In their analysis, the study authors identified several areas of workplace struggles facing the survey participants. About half of all workers and 56 percent of Black workers said they receive less than one week’s notice about their work schedules. Many of these workers are also subject to last-minute schedule changes; however, union workers are slightly less likely to have their schedules changed on short notice. Over a fifth of Black workers, but only 8 percent of White workers, worked 50 or more hours per week. Overtime for Black workers averaged 14 hours per week, compared to only six hours for White workers. Despite working longer hours, 38 percent of Black workers surveyed reported concerns with paying for rent or affording adequate food. About one-fifth of all workers said they have faced racial discrimination in the workplace.
The majority of all workers and Black workers reported positive attitudes toward unions, stating that unions give workers a voice, reduce racial discrimination, and improve the economic conditions of low-paid workers. However, the majority of all respondents also believe unions protect incompetent workers, while about two-fifths say unions slow down technological improvements. Black workers were slightly less likely than all workers to agree with the aforementioned positive benefits of unions, but were also less likely to agree that unions would result in negative outcomes for their workplace.
Among unorganized workers, the majority believe the unionization of their workplace would result in many benefits, including better pay, benefits, job security, and workplace safety. The majority of these workers also believe they would receive more training and promotion opportunities and would have a greater voice in operations if their workplace unionized. Similarly, 61 percent of workers who are represented by a union say that losing union representation would hurt their job security. Only 21 percent of all respondents and 19 percent of Black respondents reported having participated in an organizing campaign.
Based on these findings, the authors outline several policy recommendations to support workers in Southern states, including strengthening collective bargaining and organizing rights, prioritizing fair scheduling practices, investing in continuing education and mentorship opportunities, raising the minimum wage, and supporting HBCU-led research and workforce development initiatives.
“The well-being of Black workers in the South can be effectively monitored and aided by a strong HBCU infrastructure,” the authors write. “Policymakers should work to adequately fund these institutions that are so important to the development of the Black Southern workforce.”
They continue, “If policymakers follow the recommendations in this report, there will be significant economic improvements in the lives of Black Southerners, who compose a major segment of Black America and who compose a major segment of the South. These policies would contribute to the economic development not just of Black America, but of the South. The economic development of the South will improve economic outcomes for the entire country.”
