Benefits of Joining a Union

If you choose to join a union, there are a variety of benefits available for members. While union benefits depend on the union's collective bargaining agreements, they typically include increased wages, better healthcare and retirement benefits and safer working conditions.

Besides increased pay, many workers choose to join a union for job security. Although laws were established to ensure all workers receive a standard set of rights, non-union workers may be hesitant to assert these rights because of their "at-will" employment status. Being an "at-will" employee means you can be fired at any time for any reason or none at all. In many unions, however, the employer must show proof of incompetence or wrongdoing before disciplining an employee.

Union contracts have several more rights that members can enjoy, including:

• Protection against being disciplined twice for the same offense, also known as double jeopardy
• Representation during an employer investigation and employee appeal
• Due process in the administration of discipline and firing
• Protection against being required to be a witness against yourself
• Objective standards in promotion and discharge decisions
• Objective definitions of expertise, merit and productivity

Also, through collective bargaining, workers can hope for basic benefits such as:

• Fair compensation
• Healthcare and retirement benefits
• Fairness in decisions regarding promotion and assignment
• The right to privacy in one's personal life and relief from search and seizure of personal effects at work
• The ability to file a grievance to settle complaints that the employer has breached or misinterpreted the contract