By uniting with us, not only will your union's political and legislative clout increase, so too will every union's in the state federation. That's what solidarity is all about. So please join us!

A Little Bit of History
The Michigan State AFL-CIO was formed in 1958 with the merger of two organizations: the state American Federation of Labor and the Michigan Congress of Industrial Organizations. Initially the Michigan State AFL-CIO headquarters was in Detroit, but it was moved to Lansing in 1969. The present headquarters, at 419 Washington Square South in Lansing, was dedicated in 1977. This three-story "House of Labor" provides offices not only for the federation's president, secretary treasurer and staff, but also for several state and regional union organizations which value the building's meeting facilities and closeness to the State Capitol.

Why Join a Union
Unions Raise Wages—Especially for Minorities and Women
Union membership helps raise workers' pay and narrow the income gap that disadvantages minorities and women. Union workers earn 32 percent more than nonunion workers, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Their median weekly earnings for full-time wage and salary work were $659 in 1998, compared with $499 for their nonunion counterparts.

The union wage benefit is even greater for minorities and women. Union women earn 39 percent more than nonunion women, African American union members earn 45 percent more than their nonunion counterparts and for Latino workers the union advantage totals 54 percent.

Union Pay Is Higher in Nearly All Occupational Groups
It is hard to compare precisely the compensation of union and nonunion workers because individual workers differ by age, length of time on the job and other characteristics. By comparing the wages of workers within occupational categories, the union difference becomes clearer. Union membership brings one of the greatest pay differences in the protective services, where members earn $736 per week, compared with $450 for nonunion workers—a difference of 64 percent. 

Union Workers Have Better Benefits
Union workers are more likely than their nonunion counterparts to receive health care and pension benefits, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. In 1995, 85 percent of union workers in medium and large establishments had medical care benefits, compared with only 74 percent of nonunion workers. Union workers also are more likely to have retirement and short-term disability benefits.

Union Workers Have Greater Job Stability
Although nearly 50 percent of union workers have been with their current employers for at least 10 years, only 32 percent of nonunion workers can make the same claim. Union workers have greater job stability, in part because they're more satisfied with their jobs, receive better pay, have better benefits and have access to fair grievance procedures. Even more important, most collective bargaining agreements protect union members from unjust discharge. Nonunion workers are "employees at will" who can be fired at any time for any reason—or for no reason.

Why Unions Affiliate
A union affiliates with the Michigan State AFL-CIO for the same reason that the union itself was formed: in unity there is strength.

By unions working together through an organized structure—the Michigan State AFL-CIO—they become more effective politically and in the halls of the State Capitol.

The more unions that belong to the Michigan State AFL-CIO, the stronger the state federation becomes—and, in turn, the stronger each affiliated union becomes.

Our work affects everyone. Despite whether somebody is a state employee, federal worker or employed in the private sector, everybody is affected by the work of the Michigan State AFL-CIO.

For not only are we involved in broad issues that affect everyone, like taxes, auto insurance and health care, we also focus on individual affiliates' needs. For example, we work to maintain prevailing wage laws for building trades workers. We join public employees against privatization.   And through our contacts with Michigan's congressional delegation, we fight for federal workers on issues specific to them.

Organizing to Win Elections
Politics affects us all. It determines the laws which govern us, the level of taxes we pay, the services government provides.

With the ongoing downsizing of the federal government, more and more programs are being eliminated or turned back to the states. This increases the importance of the state federation's work.

The Michigan State AFL-CIO believes that every citizen has the responsibility to be interested in local, state and national affairs. Good citizens don't abstain from the political process—they actively participate in it and help make a difference.

For that reason, the state federation operates the Committee on Political Education (COPE) to spur political participation. COPE has encouraged thousands of union members to take part in political action programs and be part of winning campaigns.

COPE provides year-round political education programs for union members, and conducts voter registration and get-out-the vote campaigns. Leaflets, posters, research materials, voting records and other materials also are provided by COPE for use by union members.

The General Board uses recommendations from local COPE committees to endorse candidates for governor, U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, the Michigan Legislature and other statewide offices. Endorsements are made only if two-thirds of the General Board members approve.

COPE doesn't tell people how to vote. Rather, it provides workers with all of the pertinent information they need to make informed choices on candidates and issues.

Helping Members and Their Communities
When union members and their families are in need, the state AFL-CIO's community services operation is there to help.

Community services range from helping provide disaster relief to operating food banks, from conducting blood drives to sponsoring scout troops, from building wheelchair ramps to counseling people on how to cope with personal problems.

The Michigan State AFL-CIO Community Services program consists of four labor liaisons who are employed by the United Way of Michigan, and 29 local labor liaisons, appointed by organized labor, to serve with the 16 larger United Ways and American Red Cross chapters throughout the state. Four volunteer labor officers, appointed by the Michigan State AFL-CIO, provide program direction.

Community services is really the heart of the union movement, responding to meet the social needs of its members and communities at large. The core of community services is the union counseling program which trains thousands of union members in Michigan to link up union families with the human service delivery systems in their respective communities. The full-time community service liaisons are responsible for implementing these training programs throughout the state.

An annual week-long statewide Community Services School is conducted by the state federation to train community service representatives. A one-day institute helps coordinate these volunteers with the statewide United Way campaigns.

Community services are just one more way the Michigan State AFL-CIO serves union members and our communities.

Join Us In Solidarity

When you affiliate with the Michigan State AFL-CIO, you're joining over 600,000 fellow unionists from 59 different unions across the state. When you count union families and retirees, the Michigan State AFL-CIO represents well over a million people in Michigan.

So join with us! Your union will not only benefit directly from affiliation, but also indirectly by having 600,000 other unionists standing with you in solidarity. That's clout!

For affiliation information, write to Secretary-Treasurer Tina Abbott, Michigan State AFL-CIO, 419 Washington Square South, Suite 200, Lansing, MI 48933, or call her at (517) 487-5966.