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

Jonas Toubøl; Carsten Strøby Jensen

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

Bidragets oversatte titel: Hvorfor melder folk sig ind i fagforeninger?: Betydningen af organisationsgrad på arbejdspladsniveau for fagforeningsrekruttering

Jonas Toubøl, Carsten Strøby Jensen

Sociologisk Institut

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Abstract

In this study the reasons for joining a trade union are analyzed statistically using high quality data from Statistics Denmark comprising the entire Danish workforce combined with European Social Survey data from rounds 1-3. These data enables measuring the effect of union density at the workplace level on union recruitment, which is not done before. Workplace union density is taken to measure the strength of the workplace’s custom of being union member creating an instrumental incentive to join the union. Self-placement on a political left-right scale measures political attitude taken to be a value rational motive. The statistical results indicate that the most important predictor of joining the union is workplace union density and only in a secondary manner does political attitude matter. It is concluded that the normative pressure of one’s colleagues is the dominating reason for joining a trade union.

Bidragets oversatte titel	Hvorfor melder folk sig ind i fagforeninger?: Betydningen af organisationsgrad på arbejdspladsniveau for fagforeningsrekruttering
Originalsprog	Engelsk
Publikationsdato	20 jun. 2013
Antal sider	22
Status	Udgivet - 20 jun. 2013
Begivenhed	European ILERA Conference - University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Holland Varighed: 20 jun. 2013 → 22 jun. 2013 Konferencens nummer: 10

Konference

Konference	European ILERA Conference
Nummer	10
Lokation	University of Amsterdam
Land/Område	Holland
By	Amsterdam
Periode	20/06/2013 → 22/06/2013

Emneord

Det Samfundsvidenskabelige Fakultet
Union recruitment
union density
social custom theory
political attitude
rational choice
value rationality
European Social Survey

FN’s Verdensmål

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Why do people join trade unions?Accepteret manuskript, 485 KB

European ILERA Conference
Jonas Toubøl (Deltager)
20 jun. 2013 → 22 jun. 2013
Aktivitet: Deltagelse i eller arrangement af en begivenhed - typer › Organisation af og deltagelse i konference

Citationsformater

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author = "Jonas Toub{\o}l and Jensen, {Carsten Str{\o}by}",

note = "At the ILERA Europe Conference in Amsterdam, Holland, June 2013, Jonas Toub{\o}l was awarded the 'ILERA Transfer Young Researcher Prize' for this paper. The award was issued by the journal 'Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research.; European ILERA Conference ; Conference date: 20-06-2013 Through 22-06-2013",

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