The Benefits of Joining a Construction Union

That’s understandable. It’s a decision your training hasn’t prepared you to make. You may have learned how to wire up an electric room, how to frame a house, or weld a fitting, but not the ins and outs of a labor union. 

This article will answer some common questions about trade unions, lay out the benefits of joining, and bust some of the myths surrounding unionization. That way, you’ll be equipped to make an informed decision about whether joining a union is the right choice for you. 

A Path to Higher Earnings

If you’ve heard of union fees, you might assume that joining comes at a cost. While there are some fees involved (generally around 4% of gross income), the reality is that the non-union route will end up costing a lot more than 4%. Those costs come from:

• Lower wages
• Higher health insurance premiums
• More modest raises
• Little or no retirement benefits
• Jobsites with higher accident rates

All of these add up to the same thing: less money in your pocket. 

Unionized workers, on the other hand, earn on average 31% more on their paycheck than their non-unionized counterparts. In fact, most construction unions guarantee its members will earn a prevailing wage, according to the Davis-Bacon Act. 

If you’re surprised by the pay jump that comes with unionization, you’re not alone! The difference is genuinely staggering. The only thing more shocking is how few people opt not to join and accept a lower pay and hidden costs of non-unionized work instead.

Consistent Healthcare Coverage

Healthcare coverage is one of the most attractive work benefits. Unfortunately for tradespeople, it’s also an unreliable one. As projects come to a close and contractors issue layoffs, workers lose their health benefits. When they find new jobs, the health coverage often changes and so do the premiums that pay for it. 

Unless those workers are part of a union.

Trade unions handle healthcare benefits for their members. If you’re unionized, you can actually keep the same coverage even as you move from employer to employer. And because the employer is responsible for unionized workers’ healthcare costs, you don’t have to worry about paying the monthly premiums. 

Good healthcare coverage can have a tremendous impact on your quality of life, and a change in benefits after a layoff can be a real blow to some families. The consistent protection you get from being part of a union doesn’t just give you financial relief – it also gives you peace of mind. 

Financial Security When You’ll Need It Most

The details vary from fund to fund, but one thing doesn’t: your employer is putting money into these retirement accounts for you – on their dime. And like those health benefits we talked about, your retirement funds follow you from employer to employer. No more filling out transfer paperwork for your 401k every time you change companies!

If you’re a non-unionized worker, saving for retirement is an entirely personal project. You have to diligently set aside a portion of your paycheck so you have something left when you leave the workforce. While that sounds simple enough, the reality isn’t so rosy. Hospital bills, car repairs, braces for the kids – every unexpected expense is money that doesn’t get set aside for your retirement. It’s not uncommon for workers to hit retirement age and have to confront the fact that their nest egg looks more like an empty shell. 

So, not only does non-unionized work pay you approximately 31% less, but you have to set aside 10-15% of that smaller income to save for retirement on your own – and then spend another 10-15% on your healthcare premiums. 

Now you can see why the 4% paid in union dues are more than worth it. 

Your Safety Is Priceless

Safety may be last on this list, but it’s one of the biggest advantages of being part of a union. After all, you only have one body and one shot at keeping it healthy. 

The reality is that construction is a high-hazard industry and severe accidents can happen even on the most well-managed jobsites. However, the risks are even greater when you don’t have a union on your side. 

In fact, the Institute for Work and Health conducted a six-year study of over 50,000 companies responsible for more than 1.7 million workers. Their results were eye-opening: claims for severe injuries are 29% lower on union jobsites. 

That’s not a statistical error. It’s evidence of the power of organized labor to protect its workers. Unionized workers have higher safety standards in their contracts. They also have a better safety culture surrounding their work, since that’s one of the main driving forces behind unionization. While tradespeople often feel the pressure to compromise their safety to meet deadlines or satisfy an employer, union members know that there’s no sense in risking life and limb just to help a contractor make more money. 

We have a saying: “we work safe, or we don’t work at all.” Those aren’t simply hollow words. Not only do we have federal laws on our side, but we also have union representation making sure those laws are enforced. 

When I worked without union representation, I was constantly encouraged to get the job done quickly. Now that I have the backing of the union, I can always make sure the job gets done safely. 

Your wellbeing is the most important thing you have. And when you join a union, you won’t be the only one looking out for it. 

How to Get Union Representation

Over the years, employers have used all sorts of scare tactics to keep workers from unionizing. 

You’ve probably heard them all. “You’ll be lucky if you can work six months out of the year.” “You’ll be on the lowest rung of the seniority system.” Or that old classic, “you’ll be constantly laid off.”

Those would all be frightening prospects – if they were true. But if unions were as bad as employers wanted you to believe, tens of millions of workers wouldn’t be part of them. Workers would leave union companies in droves. And we wouldn’t be hearing these kinds of statements almost exclusively from people who have never been part of a union.

Union membership is the smart choice. The numbers bear it out. But I encourage you to go beyond those numbers. Reach out to someone who is actually in a union and ask about their personal experience. 

Whether you call a local directly or find someone online, you won’t hear people talk about getting laid off constantly or being burdened by union dues. All you’ll find are hard-working people who get to do their jobs safely and are compensated fairly for their labor. 

If, after considering all the facts, you’re interested in joining a trade union, look up the nearest union local in your trade and reach out to their organizer. They can answer any questions you still have about applying to be part of the union and how membership can benefit you. Go to our Trades page and click “Join” to get started.