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The Union Difference: Facts from the AFL-CIO
Union workers get more benefits and earn higher wages than workers who don’t have a voice on the job with a union.
Union workers participating in job-provided health insurance 79%
Nonunion workers participating in job-provided health insurance 52%
Union workers are 52% more likely than nonunion workers to have job-provided health care.
Union workers without health insurance coverage 2.5%
Nonunion workers without health insurance coverage 15%
Nonunion workers are five times more likely to lack health insurance coverage.
Union workers participating in guaranteed (defined-benefit) pension plans 77%
Nonunion workers participating in guaranteed (defined-benefit) pension plans 20%
Union workers are 285% (nearly three times) more likely than nonunion workers to have defined-benefit pensions.
Union workers with paid personal leave 57%
Nonunion workers with paid personal leave 38%
Union workers are 50% more likely than nonunion workers to have paid personal leave.
Union workers’ average days of paid vacation 15 days
Nonunion workers’ average days of paid vacation 11.75 days
Union paid vacation advantage 28%.
Union workers’ median weekly earnings $886
Nonunion workers’ median weekly earnings $691
Union wage advantage 28%
Union women’s median weekly earnings $809
Nonunion women’s median weekly earnings $615
Union wage advantage for women 32%
African American union workers’ median weekly earnings $720
African American nonunion workers’ median weekly earnings $564
Union wage advantage for African Americans 28%
Latino union workers’ median weekly earnings $733
Latino nonunion workers’ median weekly earnings $512
Union wage advantage for Latinos 43%
Asian American union workers’ median weekly earnings $902
Asian American nonunion workers’ median weekly earnings $852
Sources:
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Union Members in 2008, Jan. 28, 2009; U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor
Statistics, National Compensation Survey: Employee Benefits in Private Industry in the United States, March 2008, August 2008; Economic Policy Institute;
Employee Benefits Research Institute, May 2005.
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