Is there a conservative case for labor unions?

Many labor lawyers will be blogging soon about what to expect on the labor law front from a Biden-Harris administration. That's to be expected because the question will be on the minds of those of us who pay attention to labor law. But there will be plenty of time for that. Right now, I want to tell you about something else you might find interesting.

Open letter makes the case

Like too many other things, the subject of labor unions can really polarize political opinions in this country. Views about labor unions break down pretty reliably along partisan lines, with liberals largely in support and conservatives largely opposed.

This past Labor Day, a small group of influential conservative thinkers, policymakers, and politicians came out in favor of a conservative rethink about labor unions. They issued an open letter titled Conservatives Should Ensure Workers a Seat at the Table. The group, affiliated with the think tank American Compass, described the letter as a "statement on a conservative future for the American labor movement."

The letter begins with a defense of capitalism, free markets, economic freedom, and limited government. As you'd expect—no surprises there. But then, the letter states, "Strong worker representation can make America stronger." Whoa. It goes on to argue the decline of labor unions is bad news for America: "Rather than cheer the demise of a once-valuable institution [labor unions], conservatives should seek reform and reinvigoration of the laws that govern organizing and collective bargaining." What's going on here?