--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Although it is true that only about 20…" description: "\"Although it is true that only about 20 percent of American workers are in unions, that 20 percent sets the standards across the board in salaries, bene..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b27/molly-ivins-1296_american-workers_although-it-is-true-that-only-about-20-p_908821.jpg" --- # Although it is true that only about 20 percent of American… ![“Although it is true that only about 20 percent of American workers are in unions, that 20 percent sets the standards across the board in salaries, benefits and working conditions. If you are making a decent salary in a non-union company, you owe that to the unions. One thing that corporations do…” quote by Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b27/molly-ivins-1296_american-workers_although-it-is-true-that-only-about-20-p_908821.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b27/molly-ivins-1296_american-workers_although-it-is-true-that-only-about-20-p_908821.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b27/molly-ivins-1296_american-workers_although-it-is-true-that-only-about-20-p_908821.jpg) > “Although it is true that only about 20 percent of American workers are in unions, that 20 percent sets the standards across the board in salaries, benefits and working conditions. If you are making a decent salary in a non-union company, you owe that to the unions. One thing that corporations do not do is give out money out of the goodness of their hearts.” [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unions, though a minority, shape industry standards for wages, benefits, and conditions, influencing all workers including those in non‑union firms. **In simple terms:** Unions set standards that benefit all workers. Key Takeaway Recognize union contributions to fair labor. Themes labor rights economics solidarity Mood reflective critical Type analytical commentary When to use this quote - Negotiating contracts - advocating for benefits - policy making - public awareness Key Concepts collective bargaining market standards social equity Questions to Reflect On - How do unions maintain influence with low membership? - What policies can protect workers if unions weaken? A Different Perspective Unions may face declining membership and political opposition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-workers/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Corporations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Libertarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarian/) [Unions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unions/) [Workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workers/) [Working conditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-conditions/) ## Related quotes > [On government & unions: the only thing worse than blind trust is blind mistrust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hargreaves/on-government-unions-the-only-thing-worse-than-blind-trust-is-blind/) [Andy Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hargreaves/) > [As we celebrate Labor Day, it is important to recognize the contributions of labor unions' crucial role in building and safeguarding the rights of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-n-green/as-we-celebrate-labor-day-it-is-important-to-recognize-the/) [Al N. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-n-green/) > [One thing that corporations do not do is give out money out of the goodness of their hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/one-thing-that-corporations-do-not-do-is-give-out-money-out-of-the/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Low income is related to poorer housing, poorer diet, fewer social amenities, worse working conditions. (...) After adjustment for age, sex, race, smoking, alcohol…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marmot/low-income-is-related-to-poorer-housing-poorer-diet-fewer-social/) [Michael Marmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marmot/) > [Through job creation, quality public services and better working conditions, people, communities and countries can lift themselves out of poverty, improve livelihoods, engage in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharan-burrow/through-job-creation-quality-public-services-and-better-working/) [Sharan Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharan-burrow/) > [The working conditions of Indian labourers in the Gulf countries are notoriously abusive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barkha-dutt/the-working-conditions-of-indian-labourers-in-the-gulf-countries-are/) [Barkha Dutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barkha-dutt/) > [“Parents like Jennifer, Susan, and Rae express desires that are quite modest. Full-time hours come first. That is a prize that can be astonishingly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-edin/parents-like-jennifer-susan-and-rae-express-desires-that-are-quite/) [Kathryn Edin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-edin/) > [Many conservatives see higher education as a threat to their reactionary and corporate oriented interests and would like to defund higher education, privatize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/many-conservatives-see-higher-education-as-a-threat-to-their/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [Feminism has fought no wars. It has killed no opponents. It has set up no concentration camps, starved no enemies, practiced no cruelties. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-spender/feminism-has-fought-no-wars-it-has-killed-no-opponents-it-has-set-up-2/) [Dale Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-spender/) > [“Feminism has fought no wars. It has killed no opponents. It has set up no concentration camps, starved no enemies, practiced no cruelties. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-spender/feminism-has-fought-no-wars-it-has-killed-no-opponents-it-has-set-up/) [Dale Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-spender/) > [Public employees should have the right to bargain for better wages and working conditions, just like all employees do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/public-employees-should-have-the-right-to-bargain-for-better-wages/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [What we shouldn't be doing is trying to take away your rights to bargain for better wages or working conditions... These so-called "right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-shouldn-t-be-doing-is-trying-to-take-away-your-rights-to/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“But exceptional performance depends not only on the groundwork we lay through Deliberate Practice; it also requires the right working conditions. And in contemporary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/but-exceptional-performance-depends-not-only-on-the-groundwork-we-lay/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [I think the team that successfully puts together an economic and social policy framework for global full employment in decent working conditions based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-somavia/i-think-the-team-that-successfully-puts-together-an-economic-and/) [Juan Somavia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-somavia/) > [Corporations are driving down wages and working conditions across the globe to maximize returns for their shareholders. They use their power and influence to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winnie-byanyima/corporations-are-driving-down-wages-and-working-conditions-across-the/) [Winnie Byanyima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winnie-byanyima/) ## More by Molly Ivins > [Preemptive war is what Israel did in '67 with Arab armies on its borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/preemptive-war-is-what-israel-did-in-67-with-arab-armies-on-its/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [The idols of one's adolescence tend to endure - you never forget how you worshipped them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-idols-of-one-s-adolescence-tend-to-endure-you-never-forget-how/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Having breast cancer is massive amounts of no fun,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/having-breast-cancer-is-massive-amounts-of-no-fun/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [How the American right managed to convince itself that the programs to alleviate poverty are responsible for the consequences of poverty will someday be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/how-the-american-right-managed-to-convince-itself-that-the-programs/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [To mistake Midland for the volk heartland is the West Texas equivalent of assuming that Greenwich, Connecticut, is Levittown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/to-mistake-midland-for-the-volk-heartland-is-the-west-texas/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [I only aim at the powerful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/i-only-aim-at-the-powerful/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Even for southerners, Arkansans are amazingly friendly and extend hospitality to all strangers with astonishing openness. You couldn't find a pretension in that state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/even-for-southerners-arkansans-are-amazingly-friendly-and-extend/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [It's hard to convince people that you're killing them for their own good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/it-s-hard-to-convince-people-that-you-re-killing-them-for-their-own/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [the pyramids were built for pharaohs on the happy theory that they could take their stuff with them. Versailles was built for kings on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-pyramids-were-built-for-pharaohs-on-the-happy-theory-that-they/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Any nation that can survive what we have lately in the way of government, is on the high road to permanent glory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/any-nation-that-can-survive-what-we-have-lately-in-the-way-of/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [I think provincialism is an endemic characteristic with mankind, I think everybody everywhere is provincial, but it is particularly striking with Texans, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/i-think-provincialism-is-an-endemic-characteristic-with-mankind-i/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [During a recent panel on the numerous failures of American journalism, I proposed that almost all stories about government should begin: “Look out! They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/during-a-recent-panel-on-the-numerous-failures-of-american-journalism/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Naturally, when it comes to voting, we in Texas are accustomed to discerning that fine hair’s-breadth worth of difference that makes one hopeless dipstick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/naturally-when-it-comes-to-voting-we-in-texas-are-accustomed-to/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/be-outrageous-ridicule-the-fraidy-cats-rejoice-in-all-the-oddities/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Texas is not a civilized place. Texans shoot one another a lot. They also knife, razor, and stomp one another to death with some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/texas-is-not-a-civilized-place-texans-shoot-one-another-a-lot-they/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) [Explore all 260 Molly Ivins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) ## More American workers quotes > [Less than 8 percent of private sector workers belonged to a union in 2004, and, overall, only 12.5 percent of American workers carry a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-chavez/less-than-8-percent-of-private-sector-workers-belonged-to-a-union-in/) [Linda Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-chavez/) > [During three decades from 1947 to 1977, the nation implemented what might be called a basic bargain with American workers. Employers paid them enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/during-three-decades-from-1947-to-1977-the-nation-implemented-what/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [I am all in favor of growing the American economy and engaging in trade with the world, but not at the expense of American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-yoho/i-am-all-in-favor-of-growing-the-american-economy-and-engaging-in/) [Ted Yoho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-yoho/) > [We will end the politics of profit. We will end the rule of special interests. We will end the raiding of our jobs by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-will-end-the-politics-of-profit-we-will-end-the-rule-of-special/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The TPP is another corporate-backed agreement that is the latest in a series of trade policies which have cost us millions of decent-paying jobs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-tpp-is-another-corporate-backed-agreement-that-is-the-latest-in-a/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [“The country built on the virtue and the character and the strength of the American workingman circa 1955–65 was the ideal he meant to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wolff/the-country-built-on-the-virtue-and-the-character-and-the-strength-of/) [Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolff/) > [American workers are first rate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dodd/american-workers-are-first-rate/) [Christopher Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dodd/) > [Apparently, union bosses are so distraught about declining enrollments they will stoop to exploiting illegal workers. There is no doubt that this would hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-s-smith/apparently-union-bosses-are-so-distraught-about-declining-enrollments/) [Lamar S. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-s-smith/) > [The Trump administration is dedicated to helping build, certify, and defend the Made in America brand so that American products can reach every shore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-huckabee-sanders/the-trump-administration-is-dedicated-to-helping-build-certify-and/) [Sarah Huckabee Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-huckabee-sanders/) > [Globalization has delivered many benefits for international donors, but it's the job of politicians to represent the people - and to put American workers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/globalization-has-delivered-many-benefits-for-international-donors/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [While there are many illegal immigrants in America who are good people, many, many, this doesn't change the fact that most illegal immigrants are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/while-there-are-many-illegal-immigrants-in-america-who-are-good/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Besides taking jobs from American workers, illegal immigration creates huge economic burdens on our health care system, our education system, our criminal justice system,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-c-ting/besides-taking-jobs-from-american-workers-illegal-immigration-creates/) [Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) > [Through good times and bad, American workers and their families have been able to rely on Social Security to provide guaranteed protection against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sander-levin/through-good-times-and-bad-american-workers-and-their-families-have/) [Sander Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sander-levin/) > [American workers have faced serious difficulties in the labor market since the first oil shock in 1973. Since that time, the pace of productivity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-yellen/american-workers-have-faced-serious-difficulties-in-the-labor-market/) [Janet Yellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-yellen/) > [Getting fired can produce a particularly bountiful payday for a CEO. Indeed, he can 'earn' more in that single day, while cleaning out his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/getting-fired-can-produce-a-particularly-bountiful-payday-for-a-ceo/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) [Browse all 130 American workers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-workers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Although it is true that only about 20 percent of American workers are in unions, that 20 percent sets the standards across the board in salaries, benefits and working conditions. If you are making a decent salary in a non-union company, you owe that to the unions. One thing that corporations do not do is give out money out of the goodness of their hearts.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Molly Ivins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/although-it-is-true-that-only-about-20-percent-of-american-workers/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American workers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/although-it-is-true-that-only-about-20-percent-of-american-workers/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b27/molly-ivins-1296_american-workers_although-it-is-true-that-only-about-20-p_908821.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b27/molly-ivins-1296_american-workers_although-it-is-true-that-only-about-20-p_908821.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b27/molly-ivins-1296_american-workers_although-it-is-true-that-only-about-20-p_908821.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Although it is true that only about 20 percent of American workers are in unions, that 20 percent sets the…” — Molly Ivins", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Molly Ivins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Although it is true that only...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/although-it-is-true-that-only-about-20-percent-of-american-workers/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/although-it-is-true-that-only-about-20-percent-of-american-workers/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```