Unions Matter Unions Matter

Building a Strong UnionBuilding a Strong Union

It’s a journey not a destinationIt’s a journey not a destinationRequires strategic planningRequires strategic planningRequires strong leadership Requires strong leadership Requires member participationRequires member participationRequires member commitmentRequires member commitmentRequires positive member attitudeRequires positive member attitude

Union CriticsUnion Critics

Believe unions are antiquatedBelieve unions are antiquatedOnly valuable in 20Only valuable in 20thth Century CenturyArgue unions are irrelevant todayArgue unions are irrelevant todayPoint out membership losses (see next Point out membership losses (see next

slide)slide)Unions do not have power and influenceUnions do not have power and influenceForecast the demise of unionsForecast the demise of unions

Union MembershipUnion Membership

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Unions Make a DifferenceUnions Make a Difference

Reinforce the middle classReinforce the middle classRaise wages for all workersRaise wages for all workersFight for workerFight for worker’’s health and safetys health and safetyUnions advocate for the advancement of the Unions advocate for the advancement of the

minimum wageminimum wageUnions reduce wage inequalityUnions reduce wage inequality

Health Care and Pensions

Union vs. Non-Union WagesUnion vs. Non-Union Wages

$943 Median Weekly $742

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Defined Benefit RetirementDefined Benefit Retirement

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Family Medical Insurance Family Medical Insurance

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

No Contribution RequiredNo Contribution Required

Family Medical Coverage

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median Weekly WageMedian Weekly Wage

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Labor Unions Work for Labor Unions Work for EveryoneEveryone

Union victories: non-union workers Union victories: non-union workers benefitbenefit

Non-union employers strive to improve Non-union employers strive to improve compensation and remain competitivecompensation and remain competitive

Employers believe improvements Employers believe improvements discourage organizing effortsdiscourage organizing efforts

EconomistEconomist’’s call this the s call this the ““Union Threat Union Threat EffectEffect””

Unions Matter More TodayUnions Matter More Today

Workers are more vulnerable than beforeWorkers are more vulnerable than beforeRadical reorganization of labor processRadical reorganization of labor processContracting outContracting outDeregulation globalizationDeregulation globalizationEmployer anti-union activities Employer anti-union activities Lax labor law enforcementLax labor law enforcement

Current State of Labor LawCurrent State of Labor Law

Surveys Support Unions Surveys Support Unions MatterMatter

60 million U.S. workers (58%) would join a 60 million U.S. workers (58%) would join a union union

Employers intimidate, harass and retaliateEmployers intimidate, harass and retaliateActual commitment then diminishesActual commitment then diminishesEmployers/private sector fire union Employers/private sector fire union

supporters supporters 25% of union efforts result in firings of 25% of union efforts result in firings of

supporterssupporters

LegislationLegislation

Fair Minimum Wage Act -2007Fair Minimum Wage Act -2007The Occupational Safety and Health Act – The Occupational Safety and Health Act –

19701970WorkersWorkers’’ Compensation Laws Compensation LawsMine Safety LawsMine Safety LawsFair Labor Standards ActFair Labor Standards ActThe Social Security ActThe Social Security Act

Unions Matter to SocietyUnions Matter to Society

American Disabilities Act - 1990American Disabilities Act - 1990Voting Rights Act – 1965Voting Rights Act – 1965Civil Rights Act – 1964Civil Rights Act – 1964Equal Pay Act -1963Equal Pay Act -1963

Unions Do MatterUnions Do Matter

Unionized workers earn moreUnionized workers earn moreUnionized workers enjoy better benefitsUnionized workers enjoy better benefitsUnions advocate for living wagesUnions advocate for living wagesUnions fight for social justiceUnions fight for social justiceUnionized women and minorities earn moreUnionized women and minorities earn more60 million or 58% of U.S. workers would join a 60 million or 58% of U.S. workers would join a

unionunion

ConclusionConclusion