Women Win with Unions

Press Release

I want to draw your attention to a new study from the Center for Economic and Policy Research that demonstrates how union membership improves the economic situation of working women and their families.

According to the report, "Women, Working Families and Unions," unionized women:

· Earn more. Unionized women, on average, earn 13% higher wages (about $2.50 per hour), a difference that holds across all education levels. Union participation disproportionately raises wages at the middle and bottom of the wage distribution, including in low-wage occupations

· Receive better benefits. Unionized women are 36% more likely to receive job-based health benefits and 53% more likely to participate in an employer-sponsored plan

· Have greater access to paid leave. Union employers in the private sector are 18% more likely to provide paid sick leave, 21% more likely to provide paid vacation leave, and 21% more likely to provide paid holidays.

· Have more ability to care for family members. Union workplaces are 22% more likely to be provided with parental leave to care for a new child, 12% more likely to receive pregnancy leave, and 19% more likely to receive leave to care for a sick family member.

Unfortunately, only 1 in every 9 American women is represented by a union at work. I hope that you will take time to read this important report, which can be found here, and support efforts to make sure that women (and men) have a full and fair right to join a union.

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