Union, YES!

Eric Alterman has done a tremendous job documenting the significance of union membership for the economic health of American workers and the political health of the Democratic Party. (Scroll up for whole post.) The radical Right that runs so much of America is doing its utmost to reduce the typical American worker to indebted peonage, and the weakening and eventual destruction of labor unions is a top rightwing goal. Well folks, the facts speak loudly and clearly. From the article:

Union workers' median weekly earnings: $781

Nonunion workers' median weekly earnings: $612

Union wage advantage: 28%

Union women's median weekly earnings: $723

Nonunion women's median weekly earnings: $541

Union wage advantage for women: 34%

Union workers with access to guaranteed (defined-benefit) pension: 73%

Nonunion workers with access to guaranteed (defined-benefit) pension: 16%

Union pension advantage: 356%

Union workers whose jobs provide access to health insurance: 92%

Nonunion workers whose jobs provide access to health insurance: 68%

Union health insurance advantage: 35%

Union workers without health insurance coverage: 2.5%

Nonunion workers without health insurance coverage: 15%

Union advantage: 500%

[Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics]

Union members stand with us for a reason: we Democrats, liberals, moderates, and progressives, stand with them. Surveys show that almost 50% of Americans would join a union if they were allowed to. The conservatives have had great success in killing off unions and crowding all but corporate interests from the national discussion. They've also had great success intimidating union organizers among workers.

But we're about to change that. See if we don't.