Why Build a Union
Whether you’re teaching in a public school, working in a hospital, loading freight, or behind a cash register, you deserve a job with dignity. That means fair wages, decent benefits, and a real voice in the decisions that affect your livelihood. That’s what unions do.
Unions bring working people together to stand up for each other, bargain collectively, and fight for a better life—not just for ourselves, but for our families, coworkers, and communities.
At the North Alabama Area Labor Council, we’re here to support union members and help nonunion workers organize. If you’re not in a union yet—or if you’re in one and want to strengthen it—this web page is for you.
Why Join or Organize a Union?
Here’s what the research shows—and what workers already know:
- Higher pay: Union workers make about 10–20% more than their nonunion counterparts in similar jobs.
- Better benefits: Union members are more likely to have employer-paid health insurance, retirement plans, paid leave, and job protections.
- Job security and fair treatment: Unions help protect workers from unjust discipline or firing.
- A voice on the job: Through collective bargaining, workers get a say in wages, hours, safety, staffing, and more.
- Solidarity and democracy: Unions are one of the few places where working-class people build collective power and practice democratic decision-making.
Learn more:
- What Unions Do | AFL-CIO
- Unions are not only good for workers, they’re good for communities and for democracy: High unionization levels are associated with positive outcomes across multiple indicators of economic, personal, and democratic well-being
- Union Members Summary – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Why Alabama Needs More Unions
Alabama has one of the lowest union membership rates in the country—around 7.5% as of 2023 (though highest in the Deep South!). That’s well below the national average, even as corporate profits soar and inequality deepens.
Meanwhile, Alabama workers face:
- One of the highest poverty rates in the nation
- Low wages, especially in the service and public sectors
- Limited healthcare access, particularly in rural areas
- Harsh anti-worker laws, like “right-to-work” legislation that weakens unions
But it’s not all bad news: workers are fighting back. In recent years, Alabama has seen a wave of union activity, including:
- Amazon warehouse workers in Bessemer organizing with RWDSU and autoworkers at facilities like Mercedes, Hyundai, and Toyota organizing with UAW
- Bus manufacturing workers at New Flyer in Anniston winning a union and a contract alongside a community benefits agreement
- Starbucks baristas in Birmingham, Scottsboro, and Huntsville organizing new unions
- Growing solidarity across industries and communities
How to Join or Start a Union
There are a few different paths depending on your situation:
If your workplace already has a union, join and get involved:
- Attend union meetings
- Get to know your shop steward and local officers
- Join a committee, run for office, or get trained as a steward
- Get involved with regional, state, and national bodies, such as the North Alabama Area Labor Council
If your workplace does not have a union yet:
- Start talking with coworkers you trust
- Reach out to a union organizer for help
- Begin building a committee and preparing to go public
Get started with these resources:
- Form a Union | AFL-CIO
- The Five Basic Steps to Organizing a Union | UE
- Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee
Know Your Rights – NLRB
And of course, you can contact us—the North Alabama Area Labor Council—for support, training, and connections to experienced organizers and unions that are active in your area.
Other Benefits of Being a Union Member
The benefits of being a union member extends beyond the workplace. AFL-CIO Union Plus benefits help current and retired labor union members and their families save money and support them through major milestones, celebrations and hardships. These benefits include:
Wireless Discounts
Switch to AT&T, the only nationwide unionized wireless carrier, and receive significant bill credits and other great deals.
Credit Cards
The Union Plus Credit Card is designed to meet the needs of union members, with competitive rates, U.S.-based customer service and more.
Mortgages
The Union Plus Mortgage program helps union members purchase or refinance a home.
Insurance Plans
Union Plus offers a full range of supplemental life and accident insurance plans dedicated to meeting the unique needs of union members and their families. Affordable auto insurance with driver’s education grants is also available.
Alabama Organized Labor Awards Foundation Scholarships
The Foundation is pleased to announce the AOLAF Essay Contest, as well as, the AOLAF Trade Scholarship Contest. This year there will be fifteen (15) scholarship recipients to be awarded.
Union Plus Scholarships
In the past 25 years, union members and their children have received more than four million dollars from Union Plus scholarships.
Travel and Entertainment
Travel should be fun—but it also can be a bargain with travel discounts on car rentals, entertainment, theme parks and more.
Union Auto Program
Click Here for a better way to buy an auto with FREE union member protective benefits, saving union members and their families an average of $5,000 annually.
Final Thoughts
No one wins better pay, safer conditions, or respect on the job by themselves. It takes unity. It takes organizing. And it takes solidarity.
The labor movement is growing in Alabama—and you can be part of it. Get in touch today. Let's build power together.