These are benefits for which unions advocate. Although there are non-unionized workplaces that offer good benefits, in industries that require limited amounts of training, a union is often the difference between having or not having benefits. Unionized workers have a voice in the workplace Unions provide a counterbalancing power to management in the workplace, through a contract that outlines the rules and procedures, and through a structure for addressing workers' concerns. Workers can't always secure everything they want, but they are assured a more structured means for addressing problems. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 1998 the union pay advantage was 32 percent higher for all workers, but it is even larger for African American and Latino workers.
Unionized workers are more likely to have health insurance.
Union members are also more likely to have health plans that include dental, prescriptions, and eyeglass coverage. Many unions are fighting to preserve or establish affordable co-payments for health insurance. Many of the public policies we take for granted, such as prohibitions on child labor, the eight-hour day, social security, pension protections, and minimum wage were fought for primarily by the labor movement. Raising the Wage Floor for All Workers Unions help create a floor for wages that benefits all workers, but especially low-wage workers. Frequently even non-union employers raise wages to dissuade workers from organizing and to retain good workers.