Remote work and the bargaining power of union workers before and after COVID-19

Abstract

This research examines remote work as a bargaining outcome of union power during the COVID-19 recession. Using data from the General Social Survey, we employ difference-in-differences and event study models to assess the impact of unionization on remote work. Our results indicate that union workers were 16.2 to 22.5% points less likely to work remotely than non-union workers post-pandemic, an effect driven primarily by white-collar workers. We provide suggestive evidence that union members relied less on remote work due to stronger job protections and workplace safety measures. Our findings underscore the role of union bargaining power in shaping work arrangements and highlight the importance of employee rights and workplace protections, particularly during economic recessions.