What is a labor union?
A labor union is a group of two or more employees who join together to advance common interests such as wages, benefits, schedules and other employment terms and conditions. Joining together or “acting collectively” workers represented by unions have a powerful voice that strengthens their ability to negotiate with their employer about their concerns. Higher wages, health insurance, vacation days, paid sick leave and retirement benefits are a few examples of what workers achieve through their unions. Workers also pursue other enhancements such as flexible scheduling, protections against harassment and safer working conditions that improve the quality of jobs and workers’ well-being. Unions are membership-driven, democratic organizations governed by laws that require financial transparency and integrity, fair elections and other democratic standards, and fair representation of all workers.
Who can belong to a union?
Millions of workers in many industries and occupations are eligible to become union members. In very general terms, non-managerial employees who work for private-sector employers, including airlines and railways, and those employed by the federal government, and by state, county and local governments in many – but not all – states, may form and join labor unions.
What is collective bargaining?
Collective bargaining is the mechanism or process for an organized group of workers (“labor”) and their employer (“management”) to pursue mutual agreement over workplace issues. The results of these labor-management negotiations are contained in a collective bargaining agreement. The CBA is a legally enforceable, written contract between a union representing a group of employees (“bargaining unit”) and an employer in a workplace.
