Unions guarantee rewards for hard work and initiative.
- Workers with unions earn an average 25 percent more than do workers without a union.
- Seventy-three percent of union members in the private industry get health benefits on the job, compared with about half of workers without unions.
- Seventy percent of union members in medium and large private companies are covered by pensions that guarantee a benefit, compared with only 16 percent of workers without a union.
Unions help remedy discrimination in the workplace.
- Union contracts raise earnings by 30 percent for working women and African Americans and 45 percent for Latinos.
- Union contracts help make sure that everyone is treated fairly and equally on the job.
Unions raise living standards for the whole community.
- For decades, union membership paved the way to a strong and growing middle class. As union membership declined, the gap between the wealthy and everyone else grew.
- Better wages and benefits through unions mean that more families can make it on their own in the community – and the wage and benefit floor is lifted for everyone.
- Studies show that states where many of the workers have a union are also states with lower poverty rates, better schools and less crime.
UNION vs. NON-UNION
 |
Union | Non-Union |
| Contract | A legal document that defines hours of work, wages and other conditions of employment; establishes procedures for the resolution of disputes | No contract. Rules and policies may be changed at any time with no employee input. |
| Wages | Union wages are negotiated with the Company and are guaranteed and spelled out in your contract. | The Company sets wages, pay scales and raises often resulting in arbitrary and unfair compensation. |
| Seniority | Used to determine, among other things, placement on wage schedule, layoff procedure, vacation and holiday scheduling, overtime assignments, job bidding, shift scheduling. | At the Company’s discretion whether or not to use seniority. No guarantees. |
| Discipline | For just cause only, following progressive discipline. | “At will” employment – anyone can be fired at any time for any reason. |
| Grievances | A contract provides a structured procedure for handling disputes in the workplace (things that are in violation of that contract). | The Company says it has an “open door” policy to discuss issues, but the company decides whether or not to deal with grievances and has the last say. |
| Health and Welfare/Pensions | Benefits are negotiated by the union. | Not required under law. At the Company’s option. |
| Vacations | Paid vacation negotiated according to length of service. | Vacations given, paid or unpaid, at the company’s discretion. |
| Leaves of Absence | Negotiated leaves, which go beyond what the laws provide, with return to work guarantees. | The Company must grant only those leaves mandated by law and only under strict guidelines. |
| Layoffs | Protected by seniority. | No protection. |
| Dues | Small portion of entire wages and benefits paid to union for having representation. | No dues = no rights! |
IT PAYS TO BELONG!!!
