What is a Labor Union?
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In Brief: (1) Labor unions help workers improve conditions at work. (2) Workers in any industry can form a union. If at least 30% of the workers in your workplace sign a petition saying they want to form a union, they can proceed with national recognition.(3) During collective bargaining workers negotiate better pay, safer workplace conditions, etc.?
The pandemic shifted how people think about work, and some workers, including Gen Z, are now eyeing labor unions. Before considering joining or starting one, look at the history of labor unions, the benefits, and how they work.
The Definition of a Labor Union?
A labor union is an organized group of workers who join to make decisions about conditions affecting their work. Those conditions can include the desire for higher pay rates and safer working conditions, to better access to healthcare.?
??In real life: The first strike in the United States occurred in 1768 when New York City tailors walked out of work to protest a wage cut. The 1794 formation of the Federal Society of Journeymen Cordwainers (shoemakers) in Philadelphia in 1794 “marked the beginning of sustained trade union organization among American workers.”?
More than 60 unions exist in the United States and represent over 14 million employees.
“Labor unions all start with a conversation. It is you and two or more co-workers talking about what you [want] to change in your workplace. It can be as casual or as formal as you want, but once that is in motion and you start to organize, if a majority of workers want to form a union, a more formal process starts.”?
— Kalina Newman is an external communications specialist for the AFL-CIO.
“I would describe a labor union as a group of people that come together for a common cause, and they hire a third party to represent them for collective bargaining.”
— Keith Peraino is the CEO of Labor Advisors.
Why People Join Labor Unions
The Great Recession and COVID-19 pandemic reset workers’ mindsets, LinkedIn News reported . It made people demand more from their workplaces. As a result, “the idea of unions is enjoying a 50-year high” and “unions are seeing a path to growth.”
??In real life: It appears unions are making a comeback. A recent Gallup poll showed that “71 percent of Americans approve of unions, the highest percentage since 1965. The poll also showed a historic shift : approval of unions rose 23 percent during the last 13 years.” The pandemic changed how we thought about work, and people are no longer willing to work for low wages and in unsatisfactory work cultures and conditions.?
“The number one [reason] people form/join labor unions] is employees are looking to have some kind of say, they might be treated unfairly, or they have exhausted any other means they think they can at work. They are seeking help or guidance, and they are not getting it from their supervisors, or management, or corporate, or whoever it might be. They come into contact with a third party, who is a union.”
— Keith Peraino ?
How Employees Form Labor Unions
Employees in any industry can form a union — and it doesn’t have to be for a specific reason.?
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A union can be a formal democratic body of workers that provides you and your co-workers representation in your workplace. Once an issue arises, you can try to resolve it via a collective bargaining process.
During collective bargaining , people negotiate contracts with their employers through their unions to determine their terms of employment, including benefits, hours, job health, leave, pay, and more.?
“If at least 30% of the workers in your workplace sign cards or a petition saying that they want to form a union, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) will conduct an election, or the employer can voluntarily recognize a union. Voluntary recognition means your employer says, ‘A majority of you want to form a union. I see that you have a majority. I voluntarily recognize your union.’”
— Kalina Newman
The Benefits of Joining a Labor Union
Once you have negotiated a contract during collective bargaining, you could receive better wages, more affordable healthcare, a safer workplace, and other solutions you fought for.?
“On average, a union worker's wage is about 11.2% higher than their non-union counterparts, and 96% of union workers have employer-provided health insurance, but only 69% of non-union workers do. And we see that positive benefit, what we call the union difference, from sick leave to retirement security, to really all workplace benefits are improved when you have union representation.
On the other hand, labor unions are sometimes a disadvantage for employers because of high labor costs, the ability for employees to legally strike, the possibility of more lawsuits and more.??
“It doesn't matter how you feel about unions, you need to educate yourself. What they are, what they have accomplished, what they once were, what is the difference between today and yesteryear. It is really important, because at the end of the day, if you are an employee you don't want to be stuck paying dues into something, a part of something that you didn't know enough about.”?
- Keith Peraino ?
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Meet the experts
Kalina Newman is an external communications specialist for the AFL-CIO. She manages press, digital, and editorial communications strategies for the national organization.?
Keith Peraino is the CEO of Labor Advisors. He has 13 years of experience managing a team of professionals that assist with all labor petitions including RC, RD, UD, and RM.?
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