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Why Join A Union

What have unions ever done for working people like us? Plenty. A lot of what we have today -- things we take for granted -- is the result of working men and women joining together in unions like the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers to make America even more a land of opportunity

Here are just a few of the things working people like us, joining together in unions, have won:

• The 40 hour week
• The Eight-hour Day
• Overtime Pay
• Paid vacations and holidays
• Health plans
• Pensions
• Protection from unfair firings
• Safety and health protections on the job
• Fairness in promotions and job assignments
• Sick leave
• Higher wages for union members
• In private industry, union workers earn 38 percent more than non-union workers. That's an average of $5241 more per year. In the private sector, union workers receive 54 percent more in benefits.
• Union blue-collar workers earn $9 more an hour in total compensation than nonunion blue-collar workers.
• Union women earn 39 percent more than nonunion women.
• African Americans who belong to a union earn 45 percent more.
• Hispanics who belong to a union earn 60 percent more.

(Source: 1995 Annual Report of the U.S. Government Bureau of Labor Statistics).

As members of the Firemen and Oilers we have dignity, respect, a real say in what happens on the job and more opportunity for our families.