We all know the saying, “there’s no free lunch.” This maxim holds true when it comes to representation by organized labor – a union.

Labor unions are a business and need to make money to stay in business. That means you must pay dues to the union out of your hard-earned salary to support all union activities.  

Everything has a cost. Union representation will have financial cost to you in the form of dues. Unions will promise you that joining them is worth the cost of the dues, but they cannot guarantee it.

Remember, Cooper is a not-for-profit health system. The money Cooper makes, therefore, does not go to shareholders.

The money Cooper makes is invested right back into the health system to meet growing patient demand, improve facilities, improve patient care for the communities we serve, and pay team members. Cooper has managed its finances well. During the pandemic, Cooper did not layoff team members and continued to provide full benefits, paid hero bonuses, and paid annual merit increases. Few other health systems did so.

Cooper also continually researches the local market to ensure it is paying its team members at market rates for various positions. When conditions change, Cooper makes market adjustments for its team members. In fact, in the past two years team members have received market adjustments in their pay that have totaled more than $9 million to meet changing conditions.

No health system can afford to pay far above the market rate for a specific position – whether or not those team members are represented by a union. That’s just reality.

There is one thing for certain with union representation – you must pay dues out of your take home pay.

Just remember the wise maxim: There’s no free lunch.

You Decide: is the cost worth it.