Want to be happy? Join a union!

Many AFSCME members are already familiar with the satisfaction that comes with being part of a strong union that guarantees members a voice, strong job security and the chance to be part of something larger than themselves.

Now, there’s data to back that up. A new study profiled in The New York Times finds that union membership provides higher life satisfaction.

The study’s authors found that “union members are more satisfied with their lives than those who are not members and that the substantive effect of union membership on life satisfaction is large and rivals other common predictors of quality of life.”

Why are union members so happy? It’s not just because of the good wages and benefits that come from a union contract, the study found.

Union members are happier due to “having greater satisfaction with one’s experiences while working, feeling greater job security, being afforded numerous opportunities for social interaction and integration, and enhancing the participatory benefits associated with more engaged democratic citizenship,” the study noted.

In fact, the study’s authors told The Times, union membership isn’t good just for union members – countries with high union membership rates tend to be happier overall.

“If our paper could give any advice to labor unions, it is hopefully that we can give new meaning to the adage, ‘don’t mourn, organize,’” the authors said.