As we enter the season of thankfulness, many of us take time to reflect on the important parts of our lives: family, friends, hobbies, rest, and work. But only one of these comes with a promise in writing — a union contract. It is the rare guarantee in an uncertain world, an agreement that binds employer, employee, and union together to create stability and fairness on the job.
A union contract clearly outlines wages, hours, and working conditions. Without it, employers hold full discretion over how workers are treated and compensated. A contract sets firm boundaries on that power. While wage increases are easy to notice, many of the most important protections are often overlooked because they aren’t printed on every paycheck. Provisions like Just Cause, Paid Time Off, and Union Recognition are essential components that safeguard fairness in the workplace.
Take Just Cause, for example. It specifies the standards an employer must meet before disciplining or terminating an employee. Without it, a worker could be punished or dismissed without legitimate reason. Just Cause ensures discipline must be reasonable and justified—one of the strongest protections Union members have. The well-known “Seven Tests of Just Cause” explain these principles in detail, and every Union member should know whether their contract includes them.
Unions also laid the foundation for the workplace norms many Americans now take for granted. The forty-hour workweek, weekends, and paid holidays were all hard-won victories secured through decades of organizing. Workers spend roughly a third of their lives on the job — a balance recognized when the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 codified the modern division of work, rest, and leisure. Starting with the first Labor Day Parade in 1882, Unions have continued to negotiate paid holidays, such as Christmas and New Year’s Day. Without securing these days in a union contract, employers too easily slip into the mindset of Ebenezer Scrooge — prioritizing productivity over people.
The right of workers to come together, form a union, and negotiate a contract is protected by federal law, including the National Labor Relations Act and the Railway Labor Act. Most contracts include a recognition article affirming that employees are represented collectively, not individually. This shared commitment is the heart of Unionism: power in unity, strength in numbers. When one member is harmed, we believe all are harmed; when one gains, we all should benefit. When a company agrees to this principle in writing, the union is empowered to advocate even more effectively for its members.
This holiday season — this season of gratitude — let us remember one of the most meaningful things we have to be thankful for: our union. We are grateful for the members and leaders who support us, for the voice we have in our contract, and for the strength we share when we stand together.
Brandon Bryant is Secretary Treasurer of Machinists District W24. This column appeared Dec. 5 in the Machinists District Lodge W24 newsletter and is republished with permission.
