The Union Advantage

According to the U.S. Department of Labor:

Wages of union members are, on average, 27 percent higher than those of workers without union representation. 

• Women in unions earn an extra $170 a week – $9,000 more a year.
• African Americans in unions earn an extra $150 a week – $8,000 more a year.
• Latinos in unions earn an extra $225 a week – $11,650 more a year.

88 percent of union workers have job-related health coverage while only 69 percent of non-union workers do. 

More than two out of three union jobs offer a dental plan; only 44 percent of non-union workers receive dental coverage.

More than half all union jobs offer vision coverage; only about one-quarter of non-union jobs provide vision care.

85 percent of union jobs offer prescription drug coverage; only 66 percent of non-union jobs provide prescription drug coverage.

Union workers pay an average of 8 percent of the total monthly premium (employer pays 92 percent) for single coverage; non-union workers pay 20 percent. Union households pay an average of 12 percent of the monthly premium for family coverage while non-union families pay 32 percent.

72 percent of union workers have a guaranteed defined-benefit pension compared to 15 percent of non-union workers.T