America's 16.5 million union members represent a cross section of people—women and men
of all ages, races and ethnic groups. They work in hospitals, paper mills, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, auto assembly plants, auto dealerships and on construction sites, trains, buses and airplanes. They are security guards, musicians, electricians, postal
workers, janitors and more. Union membership is important to all of these people, helping them gain decent wages and working conditions and have a say in their jobs.
This collection of fast facts answers basic questions about unions—how many workers are members, what jobs they do and how much they are paid—and shows some of the advantages of union membership.