News

You probably already know of at least one anti-union group out there claiming that unions have no value and that they're a waste of your time. In fact, one of these groups (we're not gonna name names) spends millions of dollars, just here in Ohio alone, on mailers and emails (using your personal data) to spread huge lies about union members and public sector employees. But we know better.

There is so much value in being a union member, not just in our daily lives but over our lifetimes. Over a 30 year career alone, the average union member will make over a quarter of a million dollars more* than their nonunion counterparts. That doesn't even count the health care and benefits savings. Being union has real value, and the numbers tell the story.

Last week, as we kicked off Women's History Month, we were reminded of the real value that being in a union has in our lives, and in the lives of women and families. Union women make $214 more per week than their nonunion counterparts (that's over $10,000 more a year!). For some women, this could mean the difference between owning their own home and building equity or continuing to throw their paychecks away on rent. Being union also closes the wage gap for union workers of color. African Americans who belong to a union make nearly 40 percent more than their nonunion counterparts. Hispanic union members make 26 percent more than their union counterparts.

And, the numbers don't lie for union workers across the board. Union members as a whole make more money, have access to more reliable health care coverage and are able to retire with financial security. Because we are able to sit down with management to negotiate our contracts, and because we stand together, we almost universally make more money and have better benefits.

Being union means:

• The median earnings of union workers is $748 more PER MONTH than nonunion workers*;
• In the public sector, where unionization is higher, 92 percent of workers have a pension that allows them to retire with dignity. ONLY 15 percent of workers in the private sector have a pension;
• An astounding 94 percent of union workers have access to employer-sponsored health care, as compared to just 68 percent of nonunion workers.

Because we stand together, we have the power to negotiate for the wages and benefits we have earned. In addition, unions help raise wages and benefits not just for those INSIDE the union, but for others outside it as well. Unions set the bar for the rest of employees (e.g., exempt and management employees) and for every single worker across the nation.

And, let's not forget about the perks of having a lot of really great union friends who have our backs on the job! As contract bargaining of the State of Ohio contract begins later this year, we must be more unified than ever! Contact the OCSEA Member Resource Center at 888-OCSEA11 or MRC@ocsea.org today to see how YOU can get more involved in your local chapter and how you can support your Member Negotiations Team when they head to the table with management.