Skip to main content

What is a Union?

A Union begins with you!

When working people come together, they make things better for everyone. Joining together in unions enables workers like us to negotiate for higher wages and benefits and improve conditions in the workplace. There are millions of union members in America from all walks of life, who know that by speaking up together, they can accomplish more than what is possible on their own. A union is simply a group of people joined or associated together for a common purpose. Union members work together to negotiate and enforce a contract with management that protects the things you care about like decent raises, affordable health care, safer workplaces, job security and a stable schedule.

The Union Difference By Numbers

Women Union Members    
Median weekly earnings are on average $200 higher than women without a union.

Black Union Members    
Median weekly earnings are on average $223 more than those without a union.

Latino Union Members    
Median weekly earnings are on average $257 more than those without a union.

What is CWA?

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) is a union made up of 700,000 workers across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. CWA members work in many different industries, from small businesses to large corporations like Maximus, as well as state, local and county governments. CWA is the largest union representing customer service professionals.

As part of CWA, tens of thousands of call center agents have won higher pay with annual raises. CWA call center agents have also bargained with their employers for better working conditions, including fair monitoring and metrics, flexible scheduling, and work/family programs.

What are union dues?

At CWA, union dues are the equivalent of 2.25 work hours per month and prorated for part timers. No dues will be paid to CWA until we are officially members of that union and have ratified a first contract with our employer. Ratification is when the whole contract is voted on by the members at the worksite the contract covers and is approved. The dues we pay provide the resources the union needs to build our local organization and strongly represent us in the workplace.

News

View more