Why Do People Join Labor Unions?
The history of labor unions has been filled with successes and controversies for American workers. A labor union is a group of employees, often organized by the specific job they do, who bargain as a united unit with their employer for certain rights and working conditions. The National Labor Rights Act protects employees' right to create and join a union.
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Pay and Protections
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According the AFL-CIO, union members earn on average 30 percent more than their nonunion counterparts doing the same job. The pay difference is a result of agreements negotiated with companies that clearly establish pay rates for specific jobs. Labor unions argue that this creates a stable, productive work force. Unions also have a grievance process that governs how employees can address workplace issues with management.
Fringe Benefits
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Another advantage for joining a labor union is so you can enjoy the fringe benefits, particularly retirement and health care. The AFL-CIO reports that 68 percent of union workers have guaranteed pensions, while 14 percent of nonunion workers have the same benefits. On the health care front, labor unions have successfully negotiated health care for 97 percent their work force. Roughly 85 percent of nonunion employees have health care insurance.
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Required Membership
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Some workers, because of a collective bargaining contract, may have to join a union to work at company. With an "open shop" union, employees are not required to join or pay union dues. Employees do not have to join the union in an "agency shop" but will have to pay dues. In a "union shop," an employee is required to join the union after she has been employed by the company for a specified period of time.
Right-to-Work States
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Some states have what is called "right-to-work" laws, which prevent unions from requiring employees to join. There are currently 22 right-to-work states in the country. Union have argued that requirement rules are needed in many instances to ensure employees aren't pressured into not joining by management, and nonunion employees often enjoy some of the benefits of a company that has a union. Those benefits can include scheduling, vacation and sick time.
Other Benefits
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Union leaders say there are other benefits as well. A 2003 study says that the presence of unions from the 1990s on raised wages of unionized workers by roughly 20 percent and total compensation by 28 percent. In addition, unions also helped eliminate pay inequity. Unions also play an important role in labor protections, safety issues and enforcing employee rights.
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