Union Difference
Please take the time to read about the positive difference a union can make in your workplace and your life, the steps necessary to organize a union, your rights under the law and ways to contact a union organizer.
The Union Difference
| Union workers’ median weekly earnings2 Nonunion workers’ median weekly earnings | $1004 $802 |
| Young (ages 16-24) Union workers’ median weekly earnings Young (ages 16-24) nonunion workers’ median weekly earnings | $600 $497 |
| Union women’s median weekly earnings Nonunion women’s median weekly earnings | $955 $723 |
| African American Union workers’ median weekly earnings African American nonunion workers’ weekly median earnings | $808 $646 |
| Latino Union workers’ median weekly earnings Latino nonunion workers’ median weekly earnings | $886 $608 |
| Union workers participating in job-provided health insurance1 Nonunion workers participating in job-provided health insurance | 85% 53% |
| Union workers participating in guaranteed (defined-benefits) pension plans Nonunion workers participating in guaranteed (defined-benefits) pension plans | 74% 15% |
| Union workers with paid sick leave Nonunion workers with paid sick leave | 86% 65% |
| Union workers have the right to a grievance procedure Nonunion workers are At Will Employees |
- U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey: Employee Benefits in the United States, March 2016
- U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Union Members 2016, released January 2017
Steps to forming a union
Not represented by a union, but want to be?
When workers come together to form a union, you get the right to negotiate with your employer over wages, benefits and working conditions.
Regardless of the industry you are in, the process for forming a union is similar:
- Get together with your co-workers who may share a common interest in organizing a union
- Talk to a union organizer to learn the next steps
- Talk to your co-workers to build support for the unions
- Show that support through an election or a card-check once you have a strong majority
Once a union has been certified or recognized, the employer is required to bargain over your terms and conditions of employment with your union representative.
Learn more about your rights to engage in union activity.
Your Rights Under the Law
When you support forming a union or engage in union activities, federal and state law protects you from harassment by your employer.
This means you have the right to:
- Join or help organize a union without being harassed or punished by your employer.
- Have meetings at lunchtimes or break time in non-work areas on company property without being harassed or punished by our employer.
- Talk about, distribute union materials, or ask other co-workers to join the union on non-work time (including lunch and breaks) in non-work areas (break rooms, locker rooms, etc.).
- Go to union meetings and wear union buttons- in most cases- without interference from your boss or supervisors.
- Hold demonstrations and rallies about the union or about work problems.
This means your employer may not:
- Fire, discipline, lay off, or cut your hours for supporting the union.
- Spy, or pretend to spy, on your union activities.
- Threaten or question you about the union.
- Deny you the right to participate in forming a union.
- Pressure you not join a union.
Organizing is your right. Secure your future with a union contract.
Contact a Union Organizer
Get started now to learn how to improve your workplace and build worker power.