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WHAT THE UNION HAS DONE FOR YOU
     

The Latest Statistics Demonstrate the Advantages of Union Membership

Unions play an important part in the compensation and work lives of both unionized and nonunionized workers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Employee Benefit Research Institute have data that compares the impact of union representation on wages, fringe benefits, total compensation, pay inequality, and workplace protections.

Some of the major findings:

  • Median weekly wages of unionized workers are roughly 28% higher that weekly wages for nonunion wage earners.
  • Median weekly wages of unionized women workers are roughly 34% higher that weekly wages for nonunion women wage earners.

The most sweeping advantage for unionized workers is in fringe benefits:

  • Unionized workers covered by employer-provided health outpace nonunion counterparts by 53%.
  • Union workers covered by guaranteed (defined-benefit) pensions show a 285% advantage over nonunion workers covered by guaranteed (defined-benefit) pensions.

Unions play a pivotal role both in securing legislated labor protections and rights such as safety and health, overtime, and family/medical leave and in enforcing those rights on the job. Because unionized workers are more informed, they are more likely to benefit from social insurance programs such as unemployment insurance and workers compensation. Unions are thus an intermediary institution that provides a necessary complement to legislated benefits and protections.... CLICK HERE TO SEE WHY

 

Videos for Union Members

 

What do the 'Bosses' come up with when they ask "What has Unions ever Done for us?
     
   
     
   
 
OTHER UNION ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE WORKPLACE

What is Labor Day and How Did It Become a National Holiday?

 

 This coming Monday, September 6, 2010 will be a Labor Day in the United States and Canada. What is Labor Day and what does it mean to you? Labor Day is an annual holiday observed on the first Monday in September to celebrate the economic and social achievements of laborers which consists of most of us. It represents an annual national tribute to the contributions we as laborers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

The history of Labor Day in the United States dates back in September 5, 1882 in New York City in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. By 1884, the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday to celebrate Labor Day, as originally proposed by the union. Since then, the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a “workingmen’s holiday” on that date.

With the growth of labor organizations, the idea spread and it became a federal holiday in 1894, when, following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with the labor movement as a top political priority. Because of a fear of conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike. By June 28 of 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

The form for the celebration of Labor Day was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday: A street parade to exhibit to the public “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations,” followed by a festival for the workers and their families. This became the pattern for Labor Day celebrations. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civil significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

Traditionally, Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer. The holiday is often regarded as a day of rest and parties. In terms of US sports, Labor Day marks the beginning of the NFL and college football seasons. NCAA teams usually play their first games the week before Labor Day, with the NFL traditionally playing their first game the Thursday following Labor Day.

"Labor Day History" Tells How Labor Day Came Into Legislation