Summary

“State of the Unions: California Labor in 2025” provides the latest data on union membership, organizing activity and worker direct action in California. The report includes six case studies highlighting worker and union-led campaigns across the state. It was prepared by the UCLA Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (IRLE) and features research contributions from labor centers across the University of California at the Inland Empire Labor & Community Center at UC Riverside, UC Berkeley Labor Center, UC Irvine Labor Center, UCLA Labor Center, UC Merced Community and Labor Center, UC San Diego Labor Center, UC Santa Barbara Community Labor Center, and UC Santa Cruz Center for Labor and Community.