Legal Tip Tuesday: What Have Unions Done for American Workers
September 1, 2026
Author: Ernest B. Orsatti
Video Transcript
In honor of Labor Day, Attorneys Casey Seaman and Ernie Orsatti discuss the impact organized labor has had on American workers, from overtime and workplace safety protections to health care, pensions, paid vacation, and job security. They also explain how collective bargaining agreements continue to protect union workers today.
Transcript
Personally, unions have impacted my life in so many different ways. My father is a proud Teamster union steward and my mom is a proud previous member of the Communication Workers of America and I’m proud to be their daughter. In terms of what a union has done for you, here are a couple things you can thank a union for. The end of child labor, minimum wage, overtime, workers compensation protection, and so many other things.
Labor Day serves as a reminder about what organized labor has done for the American worker. Labor unions have negotiate collective bargaining agreements with health care provided by employers, pension plans, workplace safety rules, paid vacations, and most importantly, job security, which is just cause protection, which prohibits employers from arbitrarily terminating employees employment. Non-union workers uh can be terminated for a good reason, a bad reason, or no reason at all. An employee’s best protection can only be assured by being employed under a collective bargain agreement protected by just cause protection.
This is attorney Casey Seaman and Ernie Orsatti wishing you a happy Labor Day. Happy Labor Day.

