Union Facts

Union Members Live Better!

As union members, we bargain collectively with our employers over wages, benefits, and rights.

We have the best chance of receiving better wages, benefits and fair treatment in the workplace by bargaining collectively as a union. Most of us have very limited bargaining power as one person, but as a group, we are strong. And, with a good negotiated contract, we have legal protections we would not have otherwise.

Unions Are The Best Route To The Middle Class!

Union members make 30% more than workers who don’t have a union. That’s about $200 a week, or $10,000 a year!

Union members are 50% more likely to have employer provided health insurance, and the benefits and costs are better. And 67% of union members are covered by defined benefit pension plans through their jobs, compared with only 15% of workers who don’t have unions

Need another reason to form or belong to a union?

Under the employment at will doctrine, the cornerstone of American employment law, in general terms, unless we belong to a protected group, our employer has the right to discipline or terminate, with impunity, us for any reason -- even a bad one -- or for no reason at all.  That's why it is sometimes called the fire at will doctrine.

With a collective bargaining agreement, we have rights.  Management must have "just cause" for any disciplinary action taken against a union employee. "Just cause" is spelled out in our union contract so that we know exactly what is expected of us.