You may have heard the term union wages. Statistics Canada consistently reports large differences between such union wages and those offered in the non-union world. The term union wages to most people means higher wages. This difference may not jump out at you when you first get a union job but as your wage increases come, you will know the difference! There are typically guaranteed increases during a contract term, based on hours worked without employer discretion. And wages under a union contract cannot be reduced by an employer during its term.

Higher wages, predictable, regular wage increases without employer discretion, no wage decreases during a contract term, and the right to bargain collectively for new wages when a contract expires; these are the characteristics of union wages!