Why do people join trade unions? The impact of workplace union density on union recruitment

TY - JOUR

T1 - Why do people join trade unions? The impact of workplace union density on union recruitment

AU - Toubøl, Jonas

AU - Jensen, Carsten Strøby

PY - 2014/2

Y1 - 2014/2

N2 - Against the background of the general decline in union membership in Western countries, this study analyses factors influencing an individual's choice whether to join a trade union. The focus is on the effects of workplace union density and individual political attitudes. Micro data covering the entire Danish workforce combined with European Social Survey data enable for the first time the statistical analysis of the effect workplace union density has on union recruitment. Workplace union density is used to measure the power of social custom in workplace union membership, constituting an instrumental motive for joining the union. Self-placement on a political left-right scale measures political attitude which is assumed to constitute a value-rational motive. The statistical results indicate that workplace union density is the main predictor of whether or not an employee is going to join a union, even when other variables such as gender, occupation and industry worked in are taken into consideration. In addition, the results indicate that political attitude is also an important factor.

AB - Against the background of the general decline in union membership in Western countries, this study analyses factors influencing an individual's choice whether to join a trade union. The focus is on the effects of workplace union density and individual political attitudes. Micro data covering the entire Danish workforce combined with European Social Survey data enable for the first time the statistical analysis of the effect workplace union density has on union recruitment. Workplace union density is used to measure the power of social custom in workplace union membership, constituting an instrumental motive for joining the union. Self-placement on a political left-right scale measures political attitude which is assumed to constitute a value-rational motive. The statistical results indicate that workplace union density is the main predictor of whether or not an employee is going to join a union, even when other variables such as gender, occupation and industry worked in are taken into consideration. In addition, the results indicate that political attitude is also an important factor.

U2 - 10.1177/1024258913516902

DO - 10.1177/1024258913516902

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1996-7284

VL - 20

SP - 135

EP - 154

JO - TRANSFER - European Review of Labour and Research

JF - TRANSFER - European Review of Labour and Research

IS - 1

ER -