In the history of America's trade and labor unions, the most famous union remains the American Federation of Labor (AFL), founded in 1886 by Samuel Gompers. At its pinnacle, the AFL had approximately 1.4 million members.
Union Membership Gives Strength in Numbers
All workers benefit from unions because unions set pay standards and workplace protections. Union members — workers like you — benefit most from the union's collective bargaining power to negotiate with employers on their behalf.
For those in the industrial sector, organized labor unions fought for better wages, reasonable hours and safer working conditions. The labor movement led efforts to stop child labor, give health benefits and provide aid to workers who were injured or retired.
Industrial unions: represent most or all of the workers in an industry or firm, regardless of occupation (UAW, miners, etc.) Craft unions: represent workers in a singles occupational group (plumbers, other construction trades, printers, dockworkers, etc.) You just studied 46 terms!
Largest unions
| Name | est. | Members (approx) |
|---|---|---|
| American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees | 1932 | 1,459,511 |
| Teamsters | 1903 | 1,400,000 |
| United Food and Commercial Workers | 1979 | 1,300,000 |
| United Auto Workers | 1935 | 990,000 |
The tactics available to the union include striking, picketing, and boycotting. When they go on strike, workers walk away from their jobs and refuse to return until the issue at hand has been resolved.
The median annual salaries for the top-paying union jobs are as follows:
Through collective bargaining, unions are able to secure higher wages and better benefits. That said, unionized workers are not the only ones to benefit from this. Employers have also raised wages for non-unionized workers in order to compete for talent. Pro 3: Unions are economic trend setters.
Who Do Unions Benefit? Labor unions were created for the benefit of their members. ... Economic studies have also suggested, however, that much of the difference in pay and benefits that many union workers enjoy compared to non-union employees can no longer be attributed to the unions themselves.
National organized labor groups have influenced federal legislation, such as the creation of the U.S. Department of Labor and civil rights legislation. Union power and membership reached a high point in the U.S. during the 1940s and 1950s.
The Bottom Line. Unions have undoubtedly left their mark on the economy and continue to be significant forces that shape the business and political environments. They exist in a wide variety of industries, from heavy manufacturing to the government, and assist workers in obtaining better wages and working conditions.
Unions are the principal means for workers to organize and protect their rights on the job. The union contract or “collective bargaining agreement” establishes the basic terms and conditions of work. Unions give workers a voice with employers and provide a means to gain a measure of security and dignity on the job.
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