The weekend. Social Security. Health insurance. What do these things have in common? They all exist thanks to the advocacy of labor unions. Political economist Margaret Levi explains how these organizations forge equality and protect worker rights, calling for a 21st-century revival of the labor movement in order to build a more equitable future.

Margaret Levi: How labor unions shape society

How labor unions shape society

Unions, once architects of the weekend and champions of the middle class, see a decline, spotlighting a rise in inequality.

Despite the transformative role of unions in securing workers' rights, only 6% of private sector workers are union members today.

50% of non-union workers would join one if possible, highlighting a disconnect between desire for representation and reality.