Union Membership Gives Strength in Numbers
All workers benefit from unions because unions set pay standards and workplace protections. Union members — workers like you — benefit most from the union's collective bargaining power to negotiate with employers on their behalf. This basic right gives you as a union member more power than if you tried to negotiate as an individual.
More benefits of union membership.
- Union employees make an average of 30% more than non-union workers.
- 92% of union workers have job-related health coverage versus 68% of non-union workers.
- Union workers are more likely to have guaranteed pensions than non-union employees.
Unions help protect employees from unjust dismissal through collective bargaining agreements (CBA). Because of this, most union employees cannot be fired without "just cause." This is unlike many nonunion workers who are considered "at-will" employees and can be fired at any time for almost any reason.
Union members also benefit from having the collective power to go on strike. A strike is when a group of workers stops working either in protest of labor conditions or as a bargaining tool during labor/management negotiations.
Unions are Good for America and all Americans
Unions are associated with higher productivity, lower employee turnover, improved workplace communication, and a better-trained workforce.
There is a substantial amount of academic literature on the following benefits of unions and unionization to employers and the economy:
- Economic growth
- Productivity
- Competitiveness
- Product or service delivery and quality
- Training
- Turnover
- Solvency of the firm
- Workplace health and safety
- Economic development
Anyone Can Join Working America
Working America unites working people who don’t have a union on the job. Anyone can join in solidarity with working people across the country to fight for our common interests — good jobs, affordable health care, education, retirement security, corporate accountability and real democracy. Not only is Working America a great way to speak up, you also get money-saving discounts.
Learn more about the benefits of unions
Read more on the difference unions make and the benefits of belonging to specific unions at the AFL-CIO site. With unions, more low-wage workers can get out of poverty and there's a stronger middle class.