Why Organize?

Nearly a quarter of all American workers that formed unions in 2008 joined SEIU. Our members know that by working together, we can improve both the quality of services we provide and the communities in which we live.

Better wages -The median weekly earnings of union members are 28% more than non-union workers. For workers employed in the public sector, the difference in salary amounts to roughly $150 more a week--approximately $600 more a month--for union vs. non-union.

Health Benefits - Union workers are 28.2% more likely to be covered by employer-provided health insurance. 46 percent of unionized workers receive full pay while on sick leave, versus only 29 percent of non-union workers.

Pensions - Union workers are 53.9% more likely to have employer-provided pensions

Time-off -Union workers get 28% more days of paid vacation on average than non-union workers


Source: SEIU.org, Center for American Progress, The Bureau of Labor Statistics, UC Berkeley Labor Center, Labor Project for Working Families, the Center for Economic and Policy Research and the Employee Benefits Research Institute.
 

Why SEIU?

SEIU is the fastest-growing union in North America. Focused on uniting workers in three sectors to improve their lives and the services they provide, SEIU is the second largest public services union, with more than 1 million local and state government workers, public school employees, bus drivers, and child care providers

In 2007 SEIU grew by nearly 17,000 workers in California

• 9,202 workers through agency shop campaigns in Fresno, Sacramento County, Calaveras County, Mendocino County, Tulare Courts, Mariposa County, Los Angeles County, and LAUSD.
• 
4,282 temp workers through our Justice can’t Be Temporary campaign in Kern, Fresno, Los Angeles and Ventura counties, along with a big victory for state seasonal employees.
• 601 workers added from affiliated employee associations in Del Norte County, Imperial County, and the city of Calexico.
• 539 nonprofit workers in agencies located in Mendocino, Butte County, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
• 2,355 workers from residual campaigns in the city of National City, Fresno County, LAUSD, and the city of Pico Rivera.

Download the California Organizing Report for more information.