Higher wages, better benefits, and good working conditions are the most obvious advantages of being
organized in a union.

Based on data collected by the U.S. Department of Labor in September 2002, union workers earned an average weekly wage
of $788, while non-union workers earned 27 percent less, or $622 a week. The union advantage in wages alone is $166 a week. Figure 1 compares wages for union and non-union workers by occupation. The data is from 2001.

The union advantage for benefits like medical, vacation, and retirement is even higher—almost double that of unorganized workers. The weekly value of these benefits for unionized workers is $415 and only $219 for non-union workers—a difference of $196 a week more for the union worker. Figure 2 shows the monthly value of being unionized.

Union workers get better health care. They get medical plans from their employers worth an average of $468 a month,
while medical benefits for nonunion workers are worth only $203 a month.

Union workers get much better retirement benefits— $291 a month, compared with only $88 a month for non-union
workers. This is over three times higher than that of non-union workers.

Union workers get more disability pay, more premium pay, more vacation, more holidays, and more sick leave pay then nonunion workers.

If you add wages and benefits, union workers received a total compensation package worth an average of $1,202 a week, while non-union workers got only $841. This is a union advantage of over $361 a week, or 143 percent more. Over one year, the union advantage is worth $18,782—Joe Millionaire should have joined a union.

Dignity and Respect in Unions

Believe it or not, most workers organize into unions because of bad working conditions and poor treatment by management and not for higher wages and benefits. When workers are organized into unions, they gain the power to change their working conditions and demand respect and fair treatment from management.

With a union, workers have job security and can no longer be fired, transferred, or demoted at the whim of their bosses. In the United States, workers are hired “at-will.” This is a term which means workers are not slaves and can quit their job at their
choice—or at their will. It also means an employer can fire a worker for any or no reason—or at the employer’s will. U.S. and Hawaii law only protects a worker from being fired for an illegal reason—such as discrimination by race, sex, age, eligion, sexual orientation, ancestry, disability, marital status, or arrest and court record. However, unionized workers have a written contract which gives them additional protection against unjust or unfair firing or treatment on their job.

With a union, workers gain the power to meet with management on equal terms and bargain collectively to improve their wages and benefits. Union workers no longer have to go to their boss as individuals and beg for an increase in wages. With a union, workers have a voice on the job because management is required to negotiate with them on any chances in the terms and conditions of employment. With no union, management can take back benefits and change things on the job at anytime with no notice and no need to consult with workers. Unions give workers dignity, respect, and a voice on the job. Many workers consider these to be the most valuable benefit of having a union.