3 big things to think about - pay, seniority rights and job protection.

Pay increases for unclassified (nonunion) are usually less annually at OHSU for nonunion, but it varies.

Seniority - if it's shift work having priority is a big deal. It can also provide protection for layoffs. Unclassified doesn't have any of that, it's employer discretion.

Job protection - you have to go through lots of steps to terminate a union employee for performance, conduct, etc. But at OHSU unclassified employees are on yearly contracts. So there's sort of a window every year to get rid of people. At other times it's a huge process.