A union is democracy in action – an opportunity for you and your coworkers to come together and make improvements in your workplace.
We’re stronger united than we are alone, and a union allows us to speak with one voice to address the things most important to us on the job while we build power for working people.
What difference would a union make?
Being in a union means having a voice on the job. Union members from all kinds of backgrounds collectively bargain for higher wages, benefits, and improved working conditions through their unions.
That voice on the job also carries through after negotiations are done as workers become an equal partner in ensuring their jobs are safe and fair.
Who runs the union?
You do. You elect your negotiating committee and the union’s leadership.
You also get to weigh in on bargaining priorities, and you’ll have the chance to vote on whether to accept or reject the contract before it’s finalized.
What’s a union contract?
A collective bargaining agreement, also known as a contract, is a legally binding and enforceable written document.
Forming a union means you get to bargain over wages and working conditions. And once you win your union election, your employer can’t just start making changes. It will have to negotiate with your union first.
What sorts of benefits and protections can we achieve through collective bargaining?
Winning a contract through collective bargaining means having a legally enforceable document that guarantees your conditions of employment. Those benefits cannot be changed unilaterally by the employer without negotiating with your union.
Here are some examples of the kinds of things USW members have won:
Aren’t there already laws that protect us?
Laws governing employment, safety, discrimination and overtime all exist because millions of union members fought for them. A union grievance process ensures that everyone is treated fairly and equally, without favoritism and discrimination. A union contract, with the aid of union resources and staff, also ensures that management follows the rules – and the law.