Introduction

A labour union, sometimes known as a trade union, is an organized group of workers who bargain with employers over factors that affect their employment, including salary, benefits, and working conditions. Labour unions are also sometimes referred to as trade unions. Some fields have traditionally had a more substantial union presence than others. The percentage of workers in the public sector who are members of a union is 33.9%, which is five times higher than that of workers in the private sector who are members of a union (6.4%).

A variety of other industries offer a large number of well-paid union positions, which varies depending on the occupation. There are occupations listed under each unionized industry that union members do not hold. Depending on the employer, the nature of the work, and the collective bargaining agreements, many businesses employ a mix of union and non-union workers.

Top 5 Industries for Union Industries

Educators

The National Education Association (NEA), which represents American educators, has a membership of over three million people, making it the largest union in the United States. Those currently working in the education field, those who have retired from the field, and those who are in the process of gaining qualifications to enter the teaching profession are all included in its membership. The National Education Association (NEA) was established in 1857 with the participation of its initial one hundred members. In 1966, the NEA merged with the American Teachers Association (ATA).

In 1916, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) was founded in Chicago by eight educators who set the groundwork for the organization that would later bear their names. The membership swiftly increased from its initial count of 174 to 175 within the first four years of the organization's existence. During the period between the two World Wars, the union campaigned to establish criteria for teacher tenure. In the landmark Supreme Court case Brown vs Board of Education of Topeka, which took place in 1954 and was a defining event in the struggle for equal rights in the United States, the American Federation of Teachers participated by submitting an "amicus curiae" brief. The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), which has a membership of more than 1.7 million people, is one of the largest unions in the United States.

Steelworkers

Steel Workers Organizing Committee was created on June 17, 1936, and its first contract with Carnegie-Illinois Steel was signed on March 7, 1937. This contract guaranteed workers $5 per day in salaries and benefits and was signed by the Steel Workers Organizing Committee. In 1942, the Steel Workers Organizing Committee gave birth to what would later become known as the United Steelworkers. The organization has grown to include various businesses in addition to the traditional metalworking sector. Its current membership of 1.2 million includes employees working in rubber, oil and chemical facilities, pulp papers, forestry, and other fields. People there hail from the United States of America, Canada, and the Caribbean.

Workers in the Public Sector

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the largest organization in the United States, serves as a representative body for people in the public sector. It's more than 1.6 million active and retired members work in many sectors, including healthcare, law enforcement, and several other areas. AFSCME was founded in 1932, amid the Great Depression. The organizers intended to broaden and improve the public service sector throughout the country as their ultimate goal. Regarding the size of government employee unions in the United States, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is close to the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). About half of its approximately 1.1 million members are employed in the local, state, or federal public education sector. These members include those who work as teachers, bus drivers, and childcare workers.

Factory Workers

When people hear the word "union," the first union that typically comes to mind is the United Automobile Workers union (UAW, also known as The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America). Not everyone may be aware that the United Auto Workers union represents workers in a variety of industries in addition to the automotive sector. The union represents workers in the aerospace industry and other areas, including agriculture, healthcare, and others. The United Auto Workers (UAW) has around 400,000 active and 580,000 retired members. On behalf of its members, it has successfully negotiated several ground-breaking accords, such as the first employer-paid health insurance plan for industrial employees, assurances of employment and financial security, and cost-of-living adjustments.

Those Who Work With Electricity

In 1891, not long after electricity was made available to the typical home in the United States, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) was founded. Its membership reached its all-time high of over a million in 1972, but it suffered a significant setback when the courts in the United States ordered it to split apart from AT&T. As of 2016, the IBEW counts close to 725,000 members among its active and retired ranks. In addition to bargaining for its members' wages, benefits, and rights, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) also developed the National Apprenticeship Standards for the Electrical Construction Industry to educate electricians about newly developed technologies. They can maintain their standard of living while enhancing their expertise in the sector.

Conclusion

The percentage of workers who are members of unions has decreased significantly during the past few decades. Even though union workers make higher wages than non-union workers, pension funds that have been depleted and high dues are causing younger workers to reconsider where they want to begin their careers. However, there are still several different industries in which unions play a significant role.