With Labor Day just around the corner, it is appropriate to reflect on the state of American labor unions. While U.S. labor unions have made tremendous gains for their members as well as non-union workers, labor union membership in the U.S. has experienced a steady decline for over seven decades. Compared to other Western advanced democratic countries, the U.S. has historically ranked among the lowest in the percent of its labor force belonging to unions. This talk, by Professor Emeritus of Sociology Mike Wallace, will provide a historical overview of the U.S. labor movement to contextualize the unique position of labor unions in American society today. It will also examine the beneficial aspects of unions for society, the challenges that unions face in contemporary American society, and the prospects for a revitalization of the U.S. union movement.