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

Department of Sociology

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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.

Translated title of the contribution	Hvorfor melder folk sig ind i fagforeninger?: Betydningen af organisationsgrad på arbejdspladsniveau for fagforeningsrekruttering
Original language	English
Publication date	20 Jun 2013
Number of pages	22
Publication status	Published - 20 Jun 2013
Event	European ILERA Conference - University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands Duration: 20 Jun 2013 → 22 Jun 2013 Conference number: 10

Conference

Conference	European ILERA Conference
Number	10
Location	University of Amsterdam
Country/Territory	Netherlands
City	Amsterdam
Period	20/06/2013 → 22/06/2013

Keywords

Faculty of Social Sciences

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This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

Why do people join trade unions?Accepted author manuscript, 485 KB

European ILERA Conference
Toubøl, J. (Participant)
20 Jun 2013 → 22 Jun 2013
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Organisation of and participation in conference

Cite this

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

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{\textquoteright}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{\textquoteright}s colleagues is the dominating reason for joining a trade union.",

keywords = "Faculty of Social Sciences, Union recruitment, union density, social custom theory, political attitude, rational choice, value rationality, European Social Survey",

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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T2 - European ILERA Conference

AU - Toubøl, Jonas

AU - Jensen, Carsten Strøby

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Y1 - 2013/6/20

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Faculty of Social Sciences

KW - Union recruitment

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KW - social custom theory

KW - political attitude

KW - rational choice

KW - value rationality

KW - European Social Survey

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