Public sector unions are crucial to the economic security and equality of working women, who make up a majority of the public sector workforce and of union-represented public sector workers. Women represented by public sector unions enjoy greater economic stability from higher wages and increased participation in employer-based health insurance plans compared to public sector workers not represented by unions, which means increased economic security for their families. They also experience greater equality in wages and health benefits with their male counterparts, compared to public sector workers not represented by unions. These advantages accrue to women represented by public sector unions whether they are themselves union members or not.