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factoid
More than 60% of workers age 16-24 work in the nation's service sector.

In San Francisco, the Young Workers United successfully fought for a raise in the minimum wage. With their efforts, it jumped to $8.50 an hour.

Unionized young workers earn 12.4 percent more in wages or $1.75 more per hour

Unionized young workers are 24 percent more likely to have a pension plan

Unionized women workers earn 11.2 percent more in wages or $2.00 more per hour than non-union women workers.

Unionized women workers are 19 percent more likely to have employer-provided health insurance than non-union women workers.

For the average woman, joining a union increases her probability of having health insurance more than finishing a four-year college degree would.

Service sector workers in unions are about 19 percentage points more likely to have health insurance than those not in unions

For service sector workers in low-wage occupations, unionization raises wages by over 15%.

Unionized service sector workers in low-wage occupations are 26 percent more likely to have health insurance and 23 percent more likely to be in a pension plan.

On average, unionization raises service sector workers' wages by over 10% – about $2.00 per hour

For workers in the 15 lowest-paying occupations – ranging from maintenance workers to teachers’ assistants– unionization raises wages by just over 16% or about $1.75 per hour

Union workers in the 15 lowest-wage occupations are 25% more likely to have health insurance than similar non-union workers in the same occupations.

Unionized Latino workers earn 17.6 percent more in wages or $2.60 more per hour than non-union Latinos.

Latinos are also the fastest growing group in the labor movement. In 1983 they accounted for 6 percent of the unionized workers. By 2007 they represented almost 12 percent.

Unionized Latino workers are 27 percent more likely to have a pension plan than similar non-union Latinos.

Unionization has raised black workers' wages 12 percent --about $2.00 per hour

Unionized African-American workers are about 16 percentage points more likely to have health insurance and about 19 percentage points more likely to have a pension than their nonunion counterparts.

For the typical U.S. worker – right in the middle of the national pay scale – unionization raises wages about 14%.

Unionization raises the likelihood of having health insurance or a pension by over 25 percentage points for younger workers.

For low-wage workers, unionization raises wages about 21%

Immigrant workers in unions were 50 percent more likely to have employer- provided health insurance and almost twice as likely to have an employer-provided pension plan than immigrant workers who were not in unions.

Among immigrant workers in the 15 lowest-paying occupations, union members earned almost 20 percent more per hour than those workers who were not in unions.

On average, unionization raised immigrants’ wages by 17 percent – about $2.00 per hour.

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UFCW rocks

UFCW locals across the country are really rocking out!

More young members than ever before are hearing the union message and are connecting with young worker's committees.  Here are a few examples of how local unions and young members are rocking the UFCW.

Getting Active in Local 1439 Spokane, WA

Local 1439 organized a scholarship info session for their young workers, bringing young workers to the local to let them know about scholarships and discounts available to them. Local officers were on hand to answer questions about the union.   

Young workers were excited about the committee, and wanted to plan social events to get more young workers active in the union. Members of UFCW who were also members of a local band performed for the members and their friends.   This was a great opportunity to get out the union’s message about Wal-Mart.

By integrating the union into young workers’ lives, the Young workers walked away with a positive impression of the union, and wanted to get involved in tackling Wal-Mart. Recently, a number of young workers have signed up to flyer a Wal-Mart store as part of the holiday campaign.  More social events and actions have been planned to continue to help the committee to grow and take action.  Get active on Wal-Mart in your community!

 

1439 Melody Anthony

Free Concerts Always Rock Local 789 in St. Paul, MN

789pic196

In Minnesota, Twin Cities Local 789 Organizer Jake Baxter teamed up with the Young Union Members Caucus to bring a band in from New York City Musicians Local 802, Cyro Baptista and Beat the Donkey. Nearly 300 union members turned out to rock out, and dozens more registered to rock the voting booths election day 2004. This was the first event put on by the Young Union Member Caucus, and they are planning for the future. Jake pointed out that they aren’t just educating and mobilizing young members for contract negotiations, but for future political battles, "We'll be ready for the 2008 elections," Jake stressed.
Mixingit up in Local 1428 Claremont, CA

Business representatives in Local 1428 are looking for a few good young folks. Recently, they worked late nights and all weekend to find out what young workers want and need out of their union.  They discovered that young workers are eager to meet each other and to work together.

One thing is for sure, Young Workers want to mix business and pleasure. Picnics, Football Games, Card nights were popular ideas, and great opportunities to gather members together to hear about the union and creative ideas to boost attendance at membership meetings or orientations.  Next, the local utilized the comments of the young workers they were able to speak with to put together an issue of their newsletter, featuring young workers and their thoughts as well as inviting more workers to get involved.  

Young workers offered to do what they could to support the events.   A young woman, who is a graphic design student, said she’d love to design the posters. A young man who played ball in high school offered to set up a tournament for the local. Contact your local to see how you can get involved!

7112 women in starbucks

Knowledge is power in Local 711 Las Vegas, NV

711 Ashly Wallace

Young Workers in Las Vegas know that a good union contract takes more than  luck.  Recently, the two youngest staff members of the Lucky Local 711 headed to Reno, Nevada where, in this right to work state, they were able to sign up 42 new members by talking to workers about the benefits of union membership, including the discounts offered to UFCW members.  The young members of local 711 know the importance of union membership.  “Without my union contract, I couldn't afford health care,” said Serena May, a courtesy clerk from Albertson’s.  Amber Ritchie, an Albertson’s cashier, points out, “With a union, you have more opportunities.  Because of seniority, you can be promoted and move up in the ompany.  That’s important.”  Way to go young workers
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Does your local rock? Do you have any ideas on how to rock out UFCW? Drop us a line at young workers@ufcw.org . Do it now!

 
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