---
title: "Unions Ensure Fair Treatment"
description: "A majority of Americans say union agreements don’t give union workers unfair advantages, but rather ensure fair treatment for workers."
date: "2011-02-24"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/short-reads/2011/02/24/unions-ensure-fair-treatment/"
---

# Unions Ensure Fair Treatment

While favorability ratings for labor unions remain at a low — 45% of Americans express a favorable view — a majority of the public says unions protect workers rather than provide them unfair advantages. Asked which statement comes closer to their views, 55% say union agreements ensure fair treatment of union workers, while just 34% say such agreements give union workers unfair advantages. Two-thirds of Democrats (67%) say unions protect workers, while 25% say they give union workers unfair advantages. Independents, by a 55%-to-34% margin, also side with unions as a protector of fair treatment Republicans, however, say agreements give union workers unfair advantages by a 48%-to-42% margin. While majorities of whites (52%) and Hispanics (53%) say unions protect workers, blacks are especially supportive of unions — 75% say unions ensure fair treatment while just 19% say union workers gain an unfair advantage. Americans with less income are more likely to say unions protect workers, while those with more than $75,000 in family income split — 47% say unions ensure fair treatment, 45% say they give workers unfair advantages. [Read More](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/pubs/1897/favorability-labor-unions-salary-american-worker-productivity-public-sector)