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A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Alan Barber, (202) 293-5380 x115

The Union Advantage Across the States

Unions substantially raise wages and benefits for workers

WASHINGTON

A new report released today by the Center for Economic and Policy Research
examines unionization rates, the size and composition of the unionized
workforce, and the wages and benefits for union workers in each of the
50 states and the District of Columbia.

"The union presence varies across states, but unions substantially
raise wages and benefits for workers in every state," said John Schmitt, the author of the report.

The study, "The Unions of the States,"
finds that in the typical state, unionization is associated with a 15
percent increase in hourly wages. Unionization is also associated with
a 19-percentage-point increase in the likelihood of having
employer-provided health insurance and a 24-percentage-point increase
in the likelihood of having employer-sponsored retirement plans.

The report uses data from the monthly Current Population Survey (CPS)
over the period 2003-2009. In addition to the wage and benefit
increases, the study gives a detailed presentation of the demographic
characteristics of each state's workforce, including the share of each
state's unionized and non-unionized workforce by gender, racial and
ethnic composition, as well as the level of education of the unionized
and non-unionized workforce. The full report can be found here.

The Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) was established in 1999 to promote democratic debate on the most important economic and social issues that affect people's lives. In order for citizens to effectively exercise their voices in a democracy, they should be informed about the problems and choices that they face. CEPR is committed to presenting issues in an accurate and understandable manner, so that the public is better prepared to choose among the various policy options.

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