A union bug is a small label on a printed piece indicating the piece was printed in a unionized shop. They are nicknamed “bugs” because, due to their deliberately small sizes, they can look like a small critter sitting on the product. They are deliberately small to avoid interfering with the piece’s design and are typically placed at the bottom of the piece, or in at the end of addresses, etc. The bug will include the designating number of the union location that produced the work, and a logo or other graphic representation of the specific union.
History of the Union Bug
In the 19th century, along with many other business sectors, print shops unionized at a great rate. For many years most printers were union shops and their products were labelled accordingly. A union bug on a piece indicated the workers who produced it had a union contract; working conditions were safe, shifts were 8-hours long, etc. Nowadays a very small percentage of print shops are unionized so union bugs are far less common.
Value of a Union Bug
When you see a union bug on a piece you know it came from a shop where workers are treated fairly and the product was made in America. Union shops typically have lower turnover than their non-unionized competitors, and their workers are highly skilled and take pride in their work.
Many political candidates have their materials printed in unionized shops to show their support for unions and their employees. Anyone who wants to show support for union workers may request a union bug on their printed pieces and the bug will be included without additional charge. (Obviously they can only be provided by unionized shops.)
If you have questions about a Union Bug, give us a call at 330-597-8560.
