Unions have a substantial impact on the compensation and work lives of both unionized and non-unionized workers. This report presents current data on unions’ effect on wages, fringe benefits, total compensation, pay inequality, and workplace Some of the conclusions Unions raise wages of unionized workers by roughly 20% and raise compensation, including both wages and benefits, by about Unions reduce wage inequality because they raise wages more for low- and middle-wage workers than for higher-wage workers, more for blue-collar than for white-collar workers, and more for workers who do not have a college Strong unions set a pay standard that nonunion employers follow.