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Union Advantage by the Numbers

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Union workers earn higher wages and get more benefits than workers who don’t have a voice on the job with a union.

Union workers’ median weekly earnings $908

Nonunion workers’ median weekly earnings $710

Union wage advantage 28%

Union women’s median weekly earnings $840

Nonunion women’s median weekly earnings $628

Union wage advantage for women 34%

African American union workers’ median weekly earnings $749

African American nonunion workers’ median weekly earnings $581

Union wage advantage for African Americans 29%

Latino union workers’ median weekly earnings $774

Latino nonunion workers’ median weekly earnings $516

Union wage advantage for Latinos 50%

Asian American union workers’ median weekly earnings $907

Asian American nonunion workers’ median weekly earnings $870

Union wage advantage for Asian Americans 4%

Union workers covered by employer-provided health insurance 78%

Nonunion workers covered by employer-provided health insurance 51%

Union health insurance advantage 53%

Union workers without health insurance coverage 2.9%

Nonunion workers without health insurance coverage 14.2%

Nonunion workers are four times more likely to lack health insurance coverage

Union workers covered by guaranteed (defined-benefit) pensions 77%

Nonunion workers covered by guaranteed (defined-benefit) pensions 20%

Union pension advantage 285%

Union workers with short-term disability benefits 46%

Nonunion workers with short-term disability benefits 34%

Union short-term disability benefits advantage 35%

Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Union Members–2009, Jan. 22, 2010; U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employee Benefits in the United States, March 2009, September 2009; Employee Benefit Research Institute, EBRI Notes, October 2009.