Commonwealth Foundation Released Labor Law Report

The think tank analyzed public sector labor laws as unions shift focus to organizing non-traditional workers.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Unions

Isometric editorial illustration of a marble pillar and a simplified legislative building facade, representing labor policy analysis. — The Commonwealth Foundation's latest report examines shifting union organizing tactics, as labor groups target non-traditional sectors to offset revenue declines. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you support labor unions expanding their organizing efforts to include non-traditional roles like foster parents?

The Pennsylvania-based Commonwealth Foundation has released the fifth edition of its report, The Battle for Worker Freedom: Grading State Public Sector Labor Laws. The study examines how unions are increasingly targeting non-traditional sectors to rebuild membership.

Why it matters

Unions are actively pursuing non-traditional organizing models, such as targeting graduate students and homecare workers, to recover from revenue declines experienced since 2018. These groups are specifically prioritized because they often rely on income supports.

The report finds that public sector workers in states without collective bargaining protections earn 19% less than private-sector counterparts, compared to a 9% gap in states with strong laws. Additionally, unions typically collect 2% to 4% of worker income.

The players

Commonwealth Foundation

This is a Pennsylvania-based think tank that produces research and rankings regarding state public sector labor policies.

The details

Unions are aggressively targeting state legislatures to expand their reach to graduate students, foster parents, homecare workers, and prisoners. While membership in the four largest public unions grew by 3.5% between 2018 and 2024, legislative efforts to organize incarcerated individuals have faced resistance in states like Minnesota and Vermont.

The Supreme Court ruled on union agency fees in 2018.
The four largest public unions saw a 3.5% membership increase between 2018 and 2024.
The Commonwealth Foundation released its labor law report on September 23, 2026.

Political Context

Critics of these organizing efforts, including various state legislators and conservative groups, argue that extending collective bargaining to non-traditional roles like foster parents or prisoners creates conflicts of interest and oversteps the original purpose of unions. These opponents maintain that such expansions threaten the stability of state-funded public programs and increase taxpayer burdens.

Readers may see changes in state labor regulations that impact the costs of public services or the organization of government-funded support roles. These policy shifts can influence the taxes paid by residents and the availability of essential social services within their local community.

The takeaway

The evolution of union organizing indicates a strategic pivot toward groups traditionally outside the labor movement to counteract post-2018 membership plateaus. Observers should track pending state legislation to determine whether these unconventional organizing models successfully gain legal standing.