The Union Advantage

If you don’t have a union in your workplace, you don’t have guaranteed wages, health benefits or a secure pension. You are an “at-will” employee. You check your rights at the door, and your employer can fire you or change your conditions of employment at any time and for almost any reason.

There are real advantages to having a union for you as an individual and for society in general. By forming a union with your co-workers, together you will have the strength to negotiate a legally binding contract with your employer that includes better wages, affordable health care, a secure retirement and a safer workplace.

Something to think about

The U.S. Department of labor reports that:

• Wages of union members are, on average, 27 percent higher than those of workers who do not have union representation;
• 92 percent of union workers have job-related health coverage, while only 68 percent of non-union workers do; and
• 73 percent of union workers have a guaranteed, defined benefit pension, compared to 16 percent of non-union workers.

And the more union members there are in this country, the better off everyone is. Throughout our history, when unions are strong, wages go up, health care coverage improves and pensions are strengthened. When unions are under attack, as they are today, we’re all in danger – our jobs, our communities and our families.

Teamsters: North America’s most powerful union

The Teamsters Union is made up of 1.4 million workers who are employed in a variety of public and private industries. There are approximately 500,000 retired members of the Teamsters throughout the United States and Canada who maintain their affiliation with the Union and support important issues for working people. Unlike the company, plant or shop where you work, your union is a democratic organization where you and the other members have the right to elect local leaders and decide the policies that will affect you.

Solidarity counts

Plant managers, company presidents and supervisors have numerous resources available to them to accomplish their goals. They belong to associations and coalitions that help advance their objectives.

Workers, on the other hand, have only their numbers to protect them. And when they work together in unison they can achieve better wages and working conditions.