Unions like to present themselves as similar to a nonprofit organization, working for the benefit of those they supposedly represent. One of the best ways to evaluate the trustworthiness of a nonprofit is to look at the percentage of total spending that goes directly into programs that help people, rather than what they spend on themselves to run the organization.
The average spending on programs of the top 100 charities in the country, according to the Forbes Top Charities List for 2025, was 87%.
Did the IBT even come close?
Hardly! According to their own financial statement, the IBT spent only 26% on Representational Activities, including strike payments.
The rest was spent on salaries, benefits and perks, office space and equipment, politics, taxes, and other overhead expenses. Almost the exact opposite of organizations whose stated purpose is to help people.
How long could you go without a paycheck? The IBT called 93 strikes in the last 10 years, sending over 70,500 to the picket line for an average of 74 days.
How well has the union served its members? In the last 10 years, union members have filed 807 Unfair Labor Practice charges against the IBT.