Unionization Nears Record Levels as Students, Interns Organize

Unionization so far this year has hit near-historic levels, with more than 58,000 workers—driven largely by graduate students and medical interns—voting to organize within the last six months.

In the first half of 2023, organized labor has held onto its momentum from 2022, unionizing a total of 58,483 workers, 10,000 more than last year’s first-half tally of 43,502, according to a Bloomberg Law analysis of National Labor Relations Board election data. The figure represents the second-highest first-half organizing total since 2000.

The size of new bargaining units also has grown, with elections involving over 500 members rising 58% compared ...