The focused shift towards safety in all working environments is not new but it has certainly been amplified by the recent global health crisis. Essential workers continued to operate to support the economy and specifically, to deliver goods and services to people who needed them. Some like health care workers, grocery store employees, trades and construction workers kept doing their jobs in the service of the greater needs of the population.
Advantages of Union Jobs
Union jobs have fared better than non-union jobs as it relates to wellness and healthcare. Not only have unions used collective bargaining agreements to advocate for greater safety for workers at their workplaces but they have also used their power to have large corporations cease their operations where health and safety concerns have not been addressed. Trade unions also provide pension programs more than their non-unionized counterparts with more than 70% of union members having access to a workplace pension, compared to less than 30% of non-union workers. Safety also favors unionized environments. According to Construct Canada, the construction industry reveals a 30% lower critical injury claims, 17% fewer mobility impairments and 23% lower lost-time claims in unionized workplace environments.
In Sickness and in Health
Union job workers also have greater security when it comes to taking paid sick days. They have greater allowances. Eighty-six percent of unionized workers can prioritize their own health and that of their family without worrying about lost wages compared with 72% of non-union workers. Knowing that when you are sick, you will still be paid demonstrates workplace loyalty. It also means that you can come back to your trade union job after you are feeling better rather than further compromising your health and that of others at work by continuing to work while you are sick. The pandemic has brought health concerns to the forefront of the workplace and the security afforded to union workers will be seen as much more valuable in the future.
Strength in Numbers
If you are a worker looking for a voice, union jobs provide you with a brotherhood or sisterhood that can affect changes in your working conditions. This does not only apply to better health and safety but also to the number of hours you are expected to work and the money you make today and in the future, when inflation lessens your current earnings. Collective bargaining is at the center of this. With the union representing you, you have a force of numbers protecting your interests. Companies, especially in certain trade sectors, need to deal with the political and economic influence of unions. This means that changes to employment and working conditions cannot be imposed by those at the top on everyone else without your voice being heard. Unions help raise wages of non-union workers although they often remain lower. Also, trade unions represent diverse populations of all ethnic backgrounds, so they can help to support a fairer workplace by ensuring less of a wage gap for women, younger workers and visible minorities.
Join IUPAT for Union Jobs
IUPAT puts workers first and has created a rich and rewarding membership that supports better working conditions for member trades. Find out more about joining a trade union and why your safety and security comes first at IUPAT by contacting us today.
