Union workers receive far better pay, rights, Congress finds

Union workers earn 10.2% more than non-union peers

Workers represented by Labor unions earn 10.2 percent higher wages than their non-union peers, have better benefits and collectively raise wages industry-wide, according to a report released by House and Senate committees.

President Joe Biden has pledged to be the most pro-union president in generations, and the report outlining the economic benefits of union membership was released as his administration pushes for legislative and executive action to support workers’ rights to organize.

According to the report, by the Joint Economic Committee of Congress and the House Education and Labor Committee, unionized workers also:

• Are 18.3 percent more likely to receive employer-sponsored health insurance.
• Receive 77.4 percent more funding per hour worked toward the cost of health insurance compared with non-unionized workers.

NARROWING RACIAL, GENDER DISPARITIES
Labor unions have also contributed to narrowing racial and gender pay disparities; unionization correlates to pay premiums of:

• 17.3 percent for Black workers.
• 23.1 percent for Latino workers.
• 14.7 percent for Asian workers.

Overall, female union workers receive 4.7 percent higher hourly wages than their non-union peers.  In female-dominated service industries, union workers are paid 52.1 percent more than non-union workers.

MIDDLE CLASS FOUNDATION
“Unions are the foundation of America’s middle class,” said congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), chair of the Joint Economic Committee.

“For too long, the wealthy have captured an increasing share of the economic pie. As this report makes clear, unions help address economic inequality and ensure workers actually see the benefits when the economy grows,” he said.

The report cites the recent resurgence of the U.S. Labor Movement, and strong public support for Labor unions, as a call to action to improve wages and working conditions and support workers.

(From the Guardian)