Does the law protect workers joining unions?
Its supposed tobut too often it doesnt. Under the law, employers are not allowed to discriminate against or fire workers for choosing to join a union. For example, its illegal for employers to threaten to shut down their businesses or to fire employees or take away benefits if workers form a union. However, employers routinely violate these laws, and the penalties are weak or nonexistent. What kinds of workers are forming unions today? A wider range of people than ever before, including many women and immigrants, is joining unionsdoctors and nurses, poultry workers and graduate employees, home health care aides and wireless communications workers, auto parts workers and engineers, to name a few. How do unions help working families today? Through unions, workers win better wages, benefits and a voice on the joband good union jobs mean stronger communities. Union workers earn 30 percent more than nonunion workers and are more likely to receive health care and pension benefits than those
