Greater proportion of Boston workers belong to unions than those of other major U.S. cities.

The Boston Central Labor Union represents over 60,000 men and women, more than 17% of the city’s labor force, 40% of its members are carpenters, painters, hod carriers, and other building tradesmen. The most heavily unionized industries include printing, garment, hotels, machine and sheet metal shops, bakeries and confectioneries, textiles, trucking, and the longshore industry.