Pay equity and unions

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.equalpaycoalition.org/unions.php

Overview

Unionization is one of the most effective ways for women to achieve non-discriminatory wages. Women in unionized jobs earn, on average, $2 more than non-unionized women in similar jobs.

Almost one of every three Canadian workers belongs to a union. According to Statistics Canada, roughly 3.6 million employees in the Canadian Workforce in 2006 were union members.

Some of the reasons why people may choose to join unionized workplaces include:

Job security
Improved wages
Health Care, Pension Plans, and other Benefits
Health and Safety
Scheduling of hours
A stronger voice through collective bargaining
A right to vote on your contract

Unionized workers in almost all countries earn higher wages than otherwise comparable non-union workers . This is referred to as the “union wage premium”, or “union wage advantage. The hourly union wage premium has been generally estimated to be in the range of 7% to 14% in Canada. Wages are only one part of the union advantage, which includes much higher non-wage benefits, such as pensions and health plans, and much more paid time off the job. Union members in Canada are about three times more likely to be covered by an employer-sponsored pension plan than non-union workers, and twice as likely to be covered by a medical or dental plan. snip

Unionization tends to minimize some of the most overt forms of discrimination on the basis of gender and race, and many unions have consciously tried to promote pay and employment equity for their lower paid and women members through bargaining. Over the past two decades and more, the voice of women within most unions has become stronger, and the gender balance of elected leadership and staff in unions has become more equal (though still far from equality). In practice, unionized workers are also most likely to benefit from legislated pay and employment equity laws than are non-union workers because unions have the resources to make these laws effective.

[Omaha Steve]

1. K & R!

Thanks for the post.

OS