36 Reasons Why You Should Thank a Union

Unions have played a pivotal role in shaping the modern workforce, advocating for workers’ rights and ensuring fair treatment for employees across industries. The 36 reasons to thank a union encompass a wide range of benefits, such as the establishment of the 8-hour workday, weekends off, and paid vacations, which have become standard for millions of workers.

Unions also champion wage equity, fighting to close the gender and racial pay gaps, and provide essential support for employee health and safety through the establishment of standards and regulations. They actively work to secure benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, and family leave policies, which contribute to the overall well-being and stability of workers and their families.

Additionally, unions facilitate collective bargaining, giving employees a voice in negotiating contracts and working conditions. By standing up against unfair labor practices and advocating for workplace democracy, unions have positively impacted the lives of countless individuals and continue to be an indispensable force for workers’ rights.

1. Weekends
2. All Breaks at Work, including your Lunch Breaks
3. Paid Vacation
4. FMLA
5. Sick Leave
6. Social Security
7. Minimum Wage
8. Civil Rights Act/Title VII (Prohibits Employer Discrimination)
9. 8-Hour Work Day
10. Overtime Pay
11. Child Labor Laws
12. Occupational Safety & Health Act (OSHA)
13. 40 Hour Work Week
14. Worker’s Compensation (Worker’s Comp)
15. Unemployment Insurance
16. Pensions
17. Workplace Safety Standards and Regulations
18. Employer Health Care Insurance
19. Collective Bargaining Rights for Employees
20. Wrongful Termination Laws
21. Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967
22. Whistleblower Protection Laws
23. Employee Polygraph Protect Act (Prohibits Employer from using a lie detector test on an employee)
24. Veteran’s Employment and Training Services (VETS)
25. Compensation increases and Evaluations (Raises)
26. Sexual Harassment Laws
27. Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
28. Holiday
29. Employer Dental, Life, and Vision Insurance
30. Privacy Rights
31. Pregnancy and Parental Leave
32. Military Leave
33. The Right to Strike
34. Public Education for Children
35. Equal Pay Acts of 1963 & 2011 (Requires employers pay men and women equally for the same amount of work)
36. Laws Ending Sweatshops in the United States