US Employers Spend $1.5 Billion Fighting Unions as Membership Falls to 10%
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 20
US Employers Spend $1.5 Billion Fighting Unions as Membership Falls to 10%
2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 20
$1.5 billion a year goes to anti-union efforts by US employers, the Economic Policy Institute said, including spending on consultants, law firms, litigation and election-related legal services.
$442 million of that total is spent annually on union-avoidance consultants, the report estimated; Amazon alone disclosed $26.6 million in 2025, while saying outside groups drove the hiring.
EPI linked that spending to weaker organizing outcomes, saying employers are accused of labor-law violations in 41.5% of union elections and workers wait an average 465 days for a first contract.
union density has fallen to 10% from 20.3% in 1983, even as nearly 70% of Americans approve of unions, underscoring the gap between public support and organizing power.
US companies spend $1.5 billion opposing unions. What if this went directly to their workers?
As legal protections for unions erode, how will the balance of power in the American workplace shift?
With courts challenging its power, is America's main labor watchdog on the brink of collapse?
The $1.5 Billion Battle: How U.S. Employers Are Escalating Union Avoidance in 2026
Overview
Employer spending on union avoidance has reached new heights in 2026, with companies investing heavily to resist the rising interest in unionization, especially among younger workers. This trend is reflected in the massive revenues earned by top law firms specializing in union avoidance, making the field highly lucrative for legal professionals. Despite growing public support for unions, employer opposition remains strong, creating a paradox where significant resources are spent to maintain non-union workplaces. The escalating costs highlight the determined efforts by employers to limit union growth, even as labor trends suggest increasing worker interest in organizing.