Unions Win Nearly 80% of Representational Elections

Unions Win Nearly 80% of Representational Elections

Since January 1, 2025, unions have won 79.3% of the 1,162 NLRB representation elections held—one of the highest win rates on record, even though the total number of elections fell from 1,336 during the same period in 2024.

Unions also performed unusually well in decertification elections:
* When employees sought to vote out a union, unions still won 41% of the time.
* When employers filed petitions to oust a union—typically based on evidence of employee dissatisfaction—unions won an extraordinary 78% of elections.

Union win rates by organization:
* Teamsters: 71% (195 elections)
* SEIU: 83% (152 elections)
* IBEW: 89% (75 elections)

For employers, the takeaway is stark: once an election petition is filed, the employer has roughly a 20% chance of prevailing.

The data show that unionization risk exists even in workplaces with decent management–employee relations, especially where pay, benefits, or advancement opportunities fall short of supporting a middle-class standard of living. To reduce organizing vulnerability, employers are advised to conduct union-risk assessments, including supervisor interviews and leadership reviews, to identify areas where investment or improvements can bolster employee satisfaction and diminish the appeal of union campaigns.