America's 15.3 million union members represent a cross section of people-- women and men of all ages, races and ethnic groups. They work in hospitals and nursing homes, auto assembly plants and on construction sites, trains buses and airplanes. They are security guards, engineers, office workers, musicians, electricians, postal workers, janitors. They are the IRON WORKERS who build bridges, and buildings!
Union membership is important to all of these people, helping them gain decent wages and working conditions and have a say in their jobs.
A collection of fast facts posted at the national
AFL-CIO website answers basic questions about unions-- how many workers are members, what jobs they do an how much they are paid-- and shows some of the advantages of union membership.
Know your rights!
It is hereby declared to be the policy of the United Stated to …encourage the practice and procedure of collective bargaining and [to] protect… the exercise by workers of full freedom of association, self-organization and design of representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of negotiating the terms and conditions of their employment or other mutual aid or protection. –National Labor Relations Act
Historic Benefits Won by the Labor Movement
- 8 hour workday
- 40 hour workweek-(OVERTIME)
- Child Labor Laws
- Health Insurance
- Vacation Time
- Sick Leave
- Worker Health and Safety Laws
The Union Advantage
- Women Union Members earn 39% more than non-union
- African American Union Members earn 45% more than non-union
- Latino Union Members earn 54% more than non-union
- All Union Members earn 32% more than non-union
Union Wage; lets look at the Earnings in Actual Dollar Amounts
| |
Total
|
Men |
Women
|
AA
|
Latino
|
| Union |
$659 |
$699 |
$596
|
$578
|
$540
|
| Non-Union |
$499 |
$573
|
$430 |
$398 |
$350 |
Source: Median Weekly Earning of Full-Time Wage and Salary Workers; 1998
Union Productivity
Industry
|
Productivity Effect
|
Year of Study
|
| Manufacturing |
19-24%
|
1978
|
| Construction |
17-38% |
1984-87 |
| Cement |
6-12% |
1980 |
| Hospital |
0-16% |
1984-87 |
| Banking |
0% |
1985 |
| Furniture |
15% |
1976 |
Source: Unions and Economic Competitiveness; 1992
Reason for Increased Productivity
Sharing in Decision Making
--Promotions
--Production Standards
--Work Space Design
Better Training
Lower Turnover
Longer Tenure
Unions-
- Have helped to build the Middle Class
- Have fought for and won Benefits we now take for granted
- Continue to fight for Worker Health and Safety Laws
- Continue to fight for Worker Rights
- Continue to fight for Working Families