UNDERSTANDING UNIONIZATION DECISION MGMT 329 UNDERSTANDING UNIONIZATION DECISION

Different Aspects of Unions Economic Voice Equity Countervailing Power Forced Unionism

The Economic Rationale Traditional bread-and-butter concerns Getting a better deal negotiating higher wages and benefits Taking wages out of competition protecting members from competition “organizing to the extent of the market”

The Voice Rationale Exit and Voice Theory Benefits of worker voice Dealing with dissatisfaction Benefits of worker voice improvement in job conditions increased productivity union shock effect

Fairness and Equity “sharing the pie” Equity Theory equity within company equity within industry

Countervailing Power Rationale Gaining control over conditions at work Lobbying government and taking political action unions are the only lobby group Increasing justice in the workplace collective agreement grievance procedure Providing workers an opportunity for participation

Forced Unionism Not all unionized workers choose to be represented by a union Majority rules! Union security arrangements

What Workers Actually Want from Unions Survey by Godard (1995) Traditional areas protecting wages and benefits protecting job security pursuing grievances pushing for stronger organizing laws supporting workers on strike

What Workers Actually Want from Unions What workers believe unions must do ensuring workers have a say in union affairs ensuring workers have a say in the workplace finding positive solutions to workplace-based conflicts representing workers’ interests to management

Unionization: Propensity and Opportunity Why do some workers join unions while others do not? Propensity Job Dissatisfaction Perceived Union Instrumentality Preconceived Views About Unions

Unionization: Propensity and Opportunity Type of industry and location of employment The nature of the union that traditionally organizes the particular industry The public-policy setting Degree and expression of employer opposition

Process of Unionization Dissatisfaction with working conditions Gap between workers’ expectations and their achievements Inhibiting or facilitating conditions Widening Expectation-Achievement Gap Union Organizing Phase Unionization Post-Unionization Phase