Union
Nonunion
A Voice On the Job
Only union members enjoy the legal right and power to have a say on the job.
Management has exclusive control and decision making power.
Wages
Pay rates are negotiated to ensure fairness for everyone and protected in the union contract. Seniority is recognized.
Management alone decides what's fair pay and can base any raises on business needs, favoritism or anything else.
Benefits
Protected by the contract. Changes can only be made with employee approval.
Can be taken away or changed at any time.
Promotions & Hiring Practices
Awarded fairly according to the process agreed to in the union contract.
It's up to management.
Unfair Treatment & Job Protection
Employees have a protected way to challenge any unfair or questionable treatment with support and representation from their union. Just cause standards are applied with binding arbitration if the parties can't agree.
You're on your own. Any grievance process gives management the last word.
Working Conditions
Schedules, vacations, workload, subcontracting, work standards, layoff procedures, hours of work are all agreed to between workers and the employer and protected in the contract.
Management decides what's best for employees.
Protections & Guarantees
Only union workers enjoy a legally-binding written agreement with their employer that defines, protects, and guarantees all terms of employment.
Nonunion workers have no guarantees and no protections.
14 %
Union workers with employer-provided health insurance Nonunion workers with employer-provided health insurance
80 % 49 %
Union workers without health insurance coverage Nonunion workers without health insurance coverage
2.5 % 15 %
Union workers average days of paid vacation Nonunion workers average days of paid vacation
15 days 11.75 days
(Sources: U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, Union Members in 2006, Jan. 25, 2007; AFL-CIO.)
Additional information is available at here
Union workers with guaranteed (defined-benefit) pensions Nonunion workers with guaranteed (defined-benefit) pensions
68 % 14 %
Not only do union workers command more respect and have a voice on the job, they also get better wages and benefits.