Union Members in North Dakota and Across the Country Earn Significantly More Than Non-Union Workers. Over the four-year period between 2004 and 2007, unionized workers' wages in North Dakota were on average 13.8 percent higher than non-union workers with similar characteristics. That means that, all else equal, North Dakota workers that join a union will earn 13.8 percent more--or $2.28 more per hour in 2008 dollars--than their otherwise identical non-union counterparts. [Unions are Good for North Dakota's Economy, 2/18/09]

• Employee Free Choice Would Pump Money Into Rural Economies. The League of Rural Voters writes, "Declining worker incomes have meant declining incomes for farmers and ranchers who produce food, fiber and biofuels. And that means less money has been coming into the rural economy. A big reason for shrinking worker paychecks is that big business has made it nearly impossible to join unions and bargain for solid benefits and fair wages (15 - 25 percent higher than non-union jobs). In fact, thousands of people are illegally fired every year just because they tried to organize a union. The Employee Free Choice Act can help level the playing field by making it easier for people to join unions and bargain for a better standard of living. It can give regular working folks the purchasing power to revive the economy - and to buy the products we grow and sell in rural America." [League of Rural Voters, 5/19/09]
• Higher Wages & Benefits Help U.S. Economy by Giving Workers the Ability to Purchase More Goods & Services. According to the Center for American Progress Action Fund report, unionization is good for the economy overall and "putting more money in workers' pockets would provide a needed boost for the U.S. economy." Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich stated that higher wages and higher benefits would give workers the purchasing power they need to buy more of the goods and services that this economy produces. [CAP Report: Unions are Good for the American Economy, 2/18/09]

Workers At Dakota Gasification Co. Waited More Than a Year for Their First Contract. In July 2001, the Bismarck Tribune reported, "Tuesday's decision by the Dakota Gasification Co., board of directors to approve its first union contract for plant workers ends months of uncertainty for both sides. It also means that the 447 plant workers who were represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers during contract negotiations can now become union members. Their membership was pending a union-bargained contract, which hit some rough sledding the last two months, including a confidential strike vote and federal mediation." [Bismarck Tribune, 7/12/01]

• Union Accused Management of Changing Items in a Negotiated Contract. In June 2000, workers at Dakota Gasification Co. voted to join the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. In June 2001, the Bismarck Tribune reported, "Dakota Gasification Co. workers have ratified what they believe is the company's contract offer, but negotiations could end up in a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers approved their version of the contract Tuesday, charging that plant owner Basin Electric Power Cooperative changed or deleted a number of negotiated items. Union business manager Gary Leinius said if Basin doesn't accept the contract ratification after it's presented to them Monday, the union will make a formal complaint based on bad faith negotiations." [Bismarck Tribune, 6/14/01, 6/21/00]

Union Accused MDU Resources Group of Failing to Negotiate in Good Faith. In August 2008, "The International Union of Operating Engineers/Local 49 filed an Unfair Labor Practices charge against Knife River, a construction materials and mining subsidiary of Bismarck-based MDU Resources Group Inc. Knife River is an aggregate producer in Sauk Rapids, Minn. Local 49 business manager Glen Johnson said the 25 workers at the Minnesota plant approached Local 49 for representation in negotiating a contract in January. After nine months without success, Local 49 filed the charges, saying that Knife River was not negotiating fairly and in good faith... Johnson said he believes the company is deliberately trying not to come to an agreement, because after a total of 12 months they are no longer legally obligated to negotiate the contract." [Bismarck Tribune, 8/13/08]