It’s not just railroaders at short lines joining unions. The number of workers covered under union contracts jumped to a 16-year high in 2025, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). About 16.5 million workers were covered by a union contract in 2025, the highest level since 2009. The BLS data also confirms that union workers have higher wages than their nonunion counterparts. Median weekly earnings for union workers was $230 per week higher in 2025 than that of nonunion workers.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has organized tens of thousands of new members under Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien and General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman, a direct result of key investments in strategic organizing. New members have come from a diverse cross section of industries such as warehouse, solid waste, passenger transportation, cannabis, and rail.
More good news is that public support for unions remains high. A recent Gallup poll shows that 68 percent of people approve of unions. That’s especially true of young people including Gen Z , Gen X, and Millennials.