Union workers are more likely than their nonunion counterparts to receive health care and pension benefits, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. In March 2006, 80 percent of union workers in the private sector had jobs with employer-provided health insurance, compared with only 49 percent of nonunion workers. Union workers also are more likely to have retirement and short-term disability benefits.

As the chart below illustrates, 80 percent of union workers are covered by pension plans versus 47 percent of nonunion workers. Sixty-eight percent of union workers have defined-benefit pension plans, compared with 14 percent of nonunion workers. (Defined-benefit plans are federally insured and provide a guaranteed monthly pension amount. They are better for workers than defined-contribution plans, in which the benefit amount depends on how well the underlying investments perform.)

UNION WORKERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE
HEALTH AND PENSION BENEFITS, 2006

Note: Defined-benefit pensions are a subset of all pensions. Disability refers to short-term disability benefits.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employee Benefits in Private Industry, March 2006. August 2006.
Prepared by the AFL-CIO.