Unionization has played a vital role in determining wage levels since unions emerged as a powerful force during the Great Depression and the post-WWII period. In the early 1950s, unions represented 35% of workers in both the public and private sectors. Typically, wages negotiated by unions established a competitive standard that employers across various industries needed to match, thereby creating a wage floor. By 2020, the unionization rate had declined to 10%, mainly representing public sector employees. It is also important to recognize that unions improved worker benefits and working conditions through their contract negotiations, achieving significant milestones such as healthcare insurance and retirement plans. 
Another indicator of the success of the conservative-led coalition of the rich and corporations is the history of the federal minimum hourly wage law. In 1938, with the passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the minimum wage was set at $4.74 per hour ( all adjusted to 2020 dollars). It was raised eight times to reach $14.00 in 1968. Since then, it has declined in real terms. Today, the last adjustment in 2009 set the wage at $7.50 (nominal), which is equivalent to $10.09 in 2020 dollars.
