Do middle class republicans even know the reason unions are ...

That is for the people who must work for a living, that includes middle class republicans, and non union workers as well. This is what the unions have done for all working people
Unions are an essential part of a strong democracy and play a crucial role in America?s public and community life. Not only do they give workers a voice on the job and help negotiate fair benefits and wages for their members, but they also use their political and economic resources to raise the floor for everyone who works for a living.

Unions, by fighting for higher standards for workers, businesses, families, the environment, and public health and safety, have helped to build the middle class and make sure the economy works for everyone.

Everyone
Business
Families
Environment
Health
Equality

Unions Making a Difference for Everyone

Unions benefit all of America?s workers and strengthen our communities. Unions today:

Reinforce the middle class and lift up America?s communities. States with higher rates of unionization have lower rates of poverty, crime, and failing schools.1

Benefit local economic development. In partnerships with employers, community organizations, and local governments, unions have helped revitalize local economies by saving and expanding family-supporting jobs.

Raise wages for all workers. Studies show that a large union presence in an industry or region can raise wages even for non-union workers.2

Fight for all workers? health and safety. In 2008 the AFL-CIO and the United Food and Commercial Workers sued to get employers to provide personal protective equipment. Now, workers in hazardous jobs which require safety gear?like hard hats or protective glasses?must be provided this equipment, instead of being asked to buy it themselves.

Advocate for increases in the minimum wage and push for living wage ordinances. Unions have been instrumental in efforts to increase the federal minimum wage, state minimum wages and in the successful living wage movement which has already resulted in over 150 local living wage laws nationwide.

Reduce wage inequality. Unions raise wages the most for low- and middle-wage workers and workers without college degrees.3

Invest worker pension funds to rebuild communities In June 2006, the AFL-CIO launched the Gulf Coast Revitalization Program, a $1 billion housing and economic development program to create low- and moderate-income housing, a low-cost mortgage program, health facilities, job training services, and thousands of high-wage union jobs throughout the region. The Gulf Coast program builds on the success of similar AFL-CIO investment strategies to develop affordable housing in Chicago and to help New York City recover from the devastating terrorist attacks of September 11th. Union pension funds invested $750 million in post-9/11 New York.4

Are crucial in passing legislation benefiting all workers, including:
Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007, providing an increase in the federal minimum wage.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, a comprehensive federal law ensuring safety in the workplace.
Workers? compensation laws, giving workers injured on the job medical coverage and compensation for lost time.
Mine safety laws strengthening mine safety standards and protecting the rights of mine workers.
The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, creating the 40-hour work week and the first minimum wage.
The Social Security Act of 1935, providing benefits to unemployed and retired workers.
Union members:

Earn higher wages. Union members earn 30% more than non-union workers.

Have more training. Union workers are more likely to have access to formal, on-the-job training, making employees more skilled and adding to productivity.5

Have safer workplaces. Union workers are often better trained on health and safety rules and union workplaces are more likely to enforce Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards.6

Are more likely to receive workers? compensation. Union members also get their benefits faster, and return to work more quickly.7 When workers are injured, unions help workers through the often complicated process of filing for workers? compensation and protect workers from employer retaliation.

Have health insurance. Nearly 80% of unionized workers receive employer-provided health insurance, compared with 49% of non-union workers. Union members are also more likely to have short-term disability and life insurance coverage.
Lady snowblossom, yes you do have it good because of the work of the unions. Didn?t you read the link before you answered? Or are you one that think they know all the answers before they read anything?
John Doe, They are needed now also, don?t be kidding yourself, because when the unions are dead, so is the middle class.
Yes common sense, if you want to live under a corporate dictatership.
CB, can you link to me where you are getting your misinformation from?
And yes Germany is 80% unionized, and they have the strongest economy. They have learned to work together for the common good of the country.

Without unions, no one would be making above minimum wage and have any benefits.
It just isn?t good business sense to pay more than you have too for labor.

We would be back to the days of when Big Business Owners used the military, police forces and private security companies to assassinate anyone wanting a pay raise or benefits.

Source: http://www.pacfs.org/new-york-city-security-service/do-middle-class-republicans-even-know-the-reason-unions-are-needed-or-what-they-have-done-for-the-workers

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