As a worker, you have a federally guaranteed right to form or join a union, and bargain collectively with your employer.  Business agents and/or stewards are the representatives of the union who help workers deal with unfair treatment, discrimination and with other workplace issues.  This helps balance the power that an employer has over individual employees.

Belonging to a union gives you rights under the law that you do not have as an individual.  Once you have formed a union, your employer must bargain with your union over your wages, benefits, hours and working conditions. 

Union workers, on average, earn higher wages and get more benefits than workers who don’t have a voice on the job with a union.

As an IUOE member you will have dignity and respect on the job.

• You can expect superior wages and benefits, including health insurance and a pension, compared to those offered by non-union contractors and companies.
• You will have representation in all your job-related interests.
• You have a say in your contract. Before negotiating with management, all members effected by the contract have an opportunity to say what they want discussed in terms of wages and wage increases, benefits and working conditions. After negotiations, all workers effected by the proposed contract vote to accept or reject it.
• You can take full advantage of the best training available in the trade. There are over one-hundred IUOE training centers across the United States and Canada. In most cases, IUOE members pay nothing for training.
• You are automatically eligible for all UnionPlus program benefits.