A new report from the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) shows unionization significantly boosts the wages of low-wage workers.

The report, The Union Advantage for Low-Wage Workers, finds union membership raises wages 20.6 percent for the typical low-wage worker, 13.7 percent for the typical U.S. worker (the earner right in the middle of the national pay scale) and 6.1 percent for the typical high-wage worker.

Unfortunately, the portion of the U.S. work force belonging to unions has declined to 12.5 percent.

The 2001-2007 economic expansion was the first on record that saw U.S. median family income fall rather than rise, largely as a result of the decline in union membership. For more information, click here.