We often say “Union Members Get More!” because it’s true.
For example, an average Union worker’s total compensation is $10.62 per hour higher than a non-Union worker’s.
This
adds up to big money over the course of a lifetime. In fact, a
full-time member could earn $662,688 more than a non-Union worker earns
over a 30-year career.
And this doesn’t include holiday and vacation pay, workplace guarantees and many other perks of membership.
All this is possible because Unions are about giving power to working people.
In
the spirit of solidarity, we bring workers together so they can stand
up for themselves and negotiate as equals with the giant corporations
which employ them.
Through
the collective bargaining process, we negotiate contracts with
employers to protect and promote the interests of working people, who
really are the force behind economic growth in our country.
Beyond
the substantial differences in wages I described above, here are a few
additional examples of how your Union negotiated contract makes your
career and your living standards better than “normal”:
Equal pay for equal work
Technically,
it’s against the law for companies to pay their workers differently
according to gender, race, ethnicity or other arbitrary distinctions
which have nothing to do with a worker’s job performance.
Unfortunately,
reality has a long way to go before it catches up to the ideal set by
law. Women and racial minorities especially feel the sting when equal
pay does not come with equal work.
Fortunately,
our Union-negotiated contract provides legally binding guarantees of
wage standards for all. Every Union member knows exactly what to expect,
based entirely on job classification and experience. If any
discrimination exists, we will enforce the contract vigorously.
Pensions
Most
working Americans have Social Security or an equivalent. This maintains
a minimum standard which might not guarantee one’s ability to retire
with security, but it can supplement other sources of retirement income
to enable people to barely get by.
For
Union members, though, it’s not enough to barely get by. Our contracts
provide retirement plans which supplement Social Security and ensure
financial security and dignity into our later years.
Health care
The
Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, requires large employers
to provide health care packages to their full-time employees and their
families. While they are much better than no health care, these plans
can’t compare with the high-quality, comprehensive and low-cost packages
you enjoy as a member of UFCW 8-Golden State.
Workplace guarantees
Employees
without a Union contract are “at will,” which means managers can
discipline them or even fire them in most situations with little or no
recourse. There’s nothing to stop a boss from terminating an employee
simply because he or she earns more than a less-experienced employee at a
non-Union workplace.
Fortunately,
Union workers are protected by strong contracts which enforce fairness
and equal treatment. Your manager is not allowed to deny you work hours
simply because he or she has a friend who is getting those hours
instead.
Your
Union contract’s grievance procedure means you are entitled to a
hearing if you are being mistreated or if you are accused unfairly of
breaking the rules.
Protections against harassment
We’re
hearing a lot these days about sexual harassment and bullying on the
job. Should you be affected, please contact your Union Representative
immediately.
Your
Union membership means you have a powerful and effective ally in
correcting injustice. Those who don’t have a Union usually have to go it
alone, regardless of what the law says.
None
of these protections and benefits come to you as gifts from your
employer, and government doesn’t always succeed in getting you what you
deserve from your job.
The
members of UFCW 8-Golden State have earned it all by sticking together
and demanding more than the minimum standards required by government or
the free market.
Solidarity Works!