Search results
Feb 15, 2023 · There are so many reasons why unions are important — here are just ten of them: 1. Unity is strength. Unions enable workers to come together as a powerful, collective voice to communicate with management about their working terms and conditions – and to push for safe, fair and decent work. Working people need the protection of a union now ...
- Garment Workers
Ten reasons why unions are important. It was the trade...
- Climate
Record levels of greenhouse gases are already leading to...
- Search
War on Want 44-48 Shepherdess Walk London N1 7JP ....
- Press
Email: media@waronwant.org Telephone: 07983 550 728 or 020...
- Policies
War on Want fights the causes of poverty and defends human...
- About
We work in partnership with grassroots social movements,...
- Our Work
We work in partnership with grassroots social movements,...
- Get Involved
Get the latest news and urgent campaign actions delivered...
- Garment Workers
- Background
- Methodology: How We Measure Union Density
- Economic Well-Being
- Personal Well-Being
- Democratic Well-Being
- Conclusion
- Acknowledgments
- References
A wealth of scholarship documents the positive effects unions have for workers, both those who are unionized and those who are not. We summarize these below. Higher wages and decreased income inequality.On average, a worker covered by a union contract earns 10.2% more in wages than a peer with similar education, occupation, and experience in a nonu...
First, a brief note on how we measure union density at the state level. In this report, we categorize union density as the share of workers in a state who are members of a union or covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Union density data are averaged across states from 2015 to 2019 to give a more accurate estimate of state unionization rate...
The first category of well-being we examine is economic well-being, broadly defined as working people having the means to support themselves. We look at the relationship between union density and three indicators related to economic security and stability: the minimum wage, median income, and the unemployment insurance (UI) recipiency rate. We find...
The second category of well-being we examine is personal well-being, which we define as an individual’s physical and mental health. Within the category of personal well-being, we look at three indicators: health care coverage, Medicaid expansion, and access to paid family and sick leave. As we demonstrate below, states with higher union density are...
The final category we examine is democratic well-being, specifically the right to vote. Recent sustained attacks on this fundamental right threaten to undermine democratic stability. We look at legislation restricting voting and find that there is a strong correlation between voting restrictions and low union density. The right to vote is a core te...
In this report, we have sought to demonstrate that the benefits of unionization extend far beyond the workplace. High union density is consistently associated with a much broader set of positive spillover effects across multiple dimensions. Not only do unions directly benefit the workers they represent, but their political advocacy helps to drive a...
The authors thank William E. Spriggs, whose research inspired this report; John Schmitt for his thoughtful input; and Daniel Perez for his research assistance.
A Better Balance. 2021. Overview of Paid Sick Time Laws in the United States. Updated October 18, 2021. AFL-CIO. 2021. “Labor Movement Condemns Georgia Republicans’ Outrageous Voter Suppression Law” (press release). March 26, 2021. Amick, Benjamin C., III, Sheilah Hogg-Johnson, Desiree Latour-Villamil, and Ron Saunders. 2015. “Protecting Constructi...
Aug 24, 2017 · By providing data on union coverage, activities, and impacts, this report helps explain how unions fit into the economy today; how they affect workers, communities, occupations and industries, and the country at large; and why collective bargaining is essential for a fair and prosperous economy and a vibrant democracy.
- Higher wages. On average unionized workers are paid $5.40 an hour or 23 per cent more than those who aren’t members of a union. The union advantage is considerably higher for women and lower paid occupations.
- Greater equality. Compensation in unionized workplaces is more equitable overall, with relatively higher wages for lower paid workers and less of a wage gap for women, younger workers and racialized workers.
- Pensions/benefits. Over 70 per cent of union members have access to a workplace pension, compared to less than 30 per cent of non-union workers. Union members have better health and other benefits, including leave, than non-unionized workers.
- Job security and tenure. Unionized workers are more likely to be full-time, permanent and to work longer for their employers. For instance, 14 per cent of unionized workers are part-time, compared to 20 per cent of non-unionized workers; 12 per cent are on temporary status compared to 14 per cent of non-unionized workers; and almost half (49 per cent) have ten years of experience with their employer compared to just 35 per cent for non-unionized workers.
Jul 11, 2024 · 3. Unions increase political participation in our democracy. In addition to economic benefits, unions increase political participation, particularly voter turnout, in democracies. They help ...
- Steve Bonitatibus
Nov 16, 2022 · Many statistics and studies combine to make a strong case that unions work for the economy. They raise workers’ wages and make the nation fairer, both economically and socially. Union members earn 10.2 percent more on average than nonunion workers who have comparable jobs and comparable experience.
People also ask
Why are unions important?
Do unions work for the economy?
Do unions help workers?
What are the benefits of working in a union?
How do unions affect workers' lives outside of work?
Do unions promote economic equality & build worker power?
Apr 7, 2022 · The degree of visible worker activism, NLRB representation election activity, and union election victories will be important indicators. But the other important thing is whether the unions at newly organized workplaces are successful at quickly getting contracts or whether they get dragged into months and months of negotiations and legal disputes even after winning elections so that the air ...
