1. You make a LOT MORE MONEY

While rates vary from trade to trade and from region to region, union construction workers on average make 41% more in wages than non-union workers. And when you are paid fairly, you don't have to work so much over-time and you can spend more time with your family.

2. You help build a STONGER COMMUNITY

By forming a union where you work, you're creating more good jobs-and building a more secure future for yourself and your community. When you replace low-wage and temporary jobs with good union jobs, you boost local economies, lift living standards, strenghen tax bases, and reduce the burden on taxpayers by lowering the number of unemployed and uninsured.

3. The same set of RULES applies to everyone

Because they're negotiated by and for everyone on the job, union contracts emphasize equalilty and fair treatment. They provide a written set of rules that applies to everyone-and on every job-eliminating favoritism and discrimination and guaranteeing that no one can be unfairly or arbitrarily disciplined or dismissed.

4. You have RESPECT and a PARTNERSHIP AT WORK

Ever been told to do something a certain way, even though you knew it wan't the right way? Having a union means having a partnership with your employer and a say in decisions on the job. Your views and skills are respected. You work with your co-workers to solve problems. And you have what you need to get the job done right-the first time!

5. Get better TRAINING and ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Whether you're just starting out or experienced in your craft, training is provided by your union contract-at no cost to you. Apprentices get paid while learning basic skills. And advanced training lets you upgrade your skills and keep up with technological changes.

Unions and union contractors:

• Invest more than $500 million a year in training
• Have more than 2,000 training facilities around the country
• Train more than 180,000 apprentices and 500,000 journey-level workers every year.

6. SAFETY HAZARDS are reduced

Construction work is extremely dangerous-it has the second-highest injury rate of any major industry-and pressure to cut corners and work fast make it all the more hazardous. But union workers get more safety training, have avenues to address problems and make worksites safer, and are more likely to have access to proper equipment-and are half as likely to have life threatening accidents during their work careers.

FACT: Everyday, three American workers die because of construction-site accidents. Every year, more than 1,000 contruction workers are killed on the job.

7. You have access to the BESTJOBS in town

When you form a union where you work, you become a member of the 15 affililated unions of the building trades-and that makes you eligible to work on high-paying union construction jobs all over town, and in other cities and states.

8. You have more RETIREMENT SECURITY

Retirement security is hard to come by when you work in construction. But union construction workers have collectively-bargained pensions they can count on-they accrue benefits on every job-and the average union pension plan is worth twice as much as a non-union one!

9. You get fully-paid HEALTH INSURANCE

Union construction workers have health insurance provided by their contract, and most have free family coverage with low deductibles and co-pays. And when you're in a union, your benefits are portable-your coverage follows you from job to job.

10. It's the way to more STABILITY AND SECURITY

With all the ups and downs, intence competition and fast growth of temporary agencies in the construction industry, you don't always know where your next job will be-and what kind of pay and benefits you'll have when you get there. But as a union construction worker, the pay, benefits and working conditions in your union contract are guaranteed-you carry them with you from job to job.