The Reference Shelf

Labor unions created and fueled the workers’ rights movement that has resulted in a minimum wage, the five-day workweek, the right to take time off for illness or family emergencies without being penalized, and access to many other benefits. Some politicians now claim that labor unions are corrupt and only interfere with the relationship between management and labor, but supporters argue that unions still have an important role to play and may be essential in the effort to combat income inequality. This issue of The Reference Shelf takes a look at labor unions and their evolving role in American politics and the economy.