It’s not abstract. Here’s what changes when you join Local 14.
In a non-union environment, a disagreement with your employer is, in practical terms, you versus the organization. The outcome is usually predictable.
As a Local 14 member, you work under a collective bargaining agreement — a legally binding contract that spells out wages, working conditions, safety requirements, and your rights on the job. If a dispute arises, a business agent represents you. You are not on your own.
The collective bargaining agreement sets wage rates by classification — apprentice levels, journeyman, and foreman. Rates are negotiated, published, and apply equally to all members at that classification. There is no guessing, no favoritism, and no asking for a raise.
You will also know in advance when raises take effect and how much they will be. That certainty matters when you’re planning a life.
Union membership comes with a benefits package that most non-union workers in this trade simply don’t have access to:
Comprehensive health insurance (Aetna Choice POS II) for you and your family
Employee Assistance Program connecting those in need with Drug, Alcohol, and Mental Health Services
Vision coverage for you and your family through our Vision Benefits of America plan.
Dental coverage for you and your family through our Asbestos Workers of Philadelphia Dental Plan
Access to our prescription drug coverage through the Sav-RX Plan for you and your family.
A multi-employer pension plan is a retirement plan funded by multiple union employers under collective bargaining agreements. Benefits are based on your covered employment and credited services.
Additional defined contribution retirement benefit.
Access to the Local 14 Credit Union and all the products and benefits of a private credit union.
A mortuary benefit fund for your family.
The gap between union and non-union total compensation in this trade is substantial. The wages you sacrifice by not being in the union aren’t saved by your employer — they’re kept by your employer.
Local 14 maintains an out-of-work list. If you’re laid off, your name goes on the list and you are referred to available work with signatory contractors on a fair, non-discriminatory basis. You are not starting from scratch every time a job ends. You are part of a network.
Yes. Dues fund the union’s operations — the staff, the legal representation, the contract negotiations that produce your wages and benefits. Think of it this way: the difference between what union members earn and what non-union workers in this trade are typically paid is far greater than the cost of dues. You’re not paying for nothing. You’re paying for leverage.
Yes. Current members understand that anyone doing insulation work outside the union is doing the same skilled work for less money and fewer protections. The organizing program exists to bring those workers into the fold — not to exclude them.
No job guarantees 100% employment. But through the referral system and the network of signatory contractors, the time between jobs for union members is typically short. You’re not job-hunting alone.
The union will evaluate your experience and skill level and assign you to the appropriate classification within the collective bargaining agreement. Your wage rate will match that classification from your first day.
