1. Access to Justice in the Workplace: The Link Between Union Density and the Rule of Law
Christopher David Ruiz Cameron
© 2012

2. The World Justice Project
Mission
Founders and underwriters
Rule of law index project

3. The World Justice Project
►‘Rule of law’: A definition
►Rule of law index factors

4. The World Justice Project
‘Rule of law’: A definition
4 universal principles
1. Government accountability
2. Laws clearly protect fundamental rights
3. Accessible, fair, efficient legal process
4. Independent adjudicators, counsel

5. The World Justice Project
Rule of law index factors
8 measurements (2011)
1. Limited government powers
2. Absence of corruption
3. Order and security
4. Fundamental rights (e.g., freedom of association)
5. Open government
6. Regulatory enforcement
7. Access to civil justice (e.g., workplace grievances)
8. Effective criminal justice

6. The World Justice Project
How USA Ranks
Factor #4
Score /100
Global ranking 16/66
Regional ranking 10/12
Income group ranking 16/23

7. The World Justice Project
How Canada Ranks
Factor #4
Score /100
Global ranking 14/66
Regional ranking 9/12
Income group ranking 14/23

8. The World Justice Project
How USA Ranks
Factor #7
Score /100
Global ranking 21/66
Regional ranking 11/12
Income group ranking 20/23

9. The World Justice Project
How Canada Ranks
Factor #7
Score /100
Global ranking 16/66
Regional ranking 9/12
Income group ranking 16/23

10. The Role of Union Density
Why Aren’t We Number 1?
Factor #4: USA vs. Global Top 5
ROLI Union density* OECD rank*
#1 Sweden % #2
#2 Norway % #5
#3 Netherlands % #18
#4 New Zealand % #15
#5 Austria % #10
#19 United States % #29
*All figures 2008

11. The Role of Union Density
Why Aren’t We Number 1?
Factor #4: USA vs. Global Bottom 5
ROLI Union density* OECD rank*
#19 United States % #29
#62 Cambodia
#63 Pakistan
#64 China
#65 Ethiopia
#66 Iran

12. The Role of Union Density
Why Aren’t We Number 1?
Factor #4: USA vs. Emerging Nations
ROLI Union density* OECD rank*
#17 South Korea % #30
#18 Chile % #28
#19 United States % #29
#24 Peru % #2

13. The Role of Union Density
Why Aren’t We Number 1?
Factor #7: USA vs. Global Top 5
ROLI Union density* OECD rank*
#1 Norway % #5
#2 Germany % #17
#3 Netherlands % #18
#4 New Zealand % #15
#5 Sweden % #2
#21 United States % #29

14. The Role of Union Density
Why Aren’t We Number 1?
Factor #7: USA vs. Bottom 5
ROLI Union density* OECD rank*
#21 United States % #29
#62 Bangladesh
#63 Ukraine
#64 Cambodia
#65 Liberia
#66 Pakistan

15. The Role of Union Density
Why Aren’t We Number 1?
Factor #7: USA vs. Emerging Nations
ROLI Union density* OECD rank*
#6 Estonia % #32
#12 Hong Kong
#17 South Korea % #30
#18 Chile % #28
#20 Czech Republic % #22
#21 United States % #29

16. The Role of Union Density
Why Is Union Density So Important?
Some Observations
► ROLI score, union density ≈ correlated
► 20% rule?
► Democratizing functions of unionism

17. Key References
The World Justice Project Rule of Law Index 2011 (Mark David Agrast, Juan Carlos Botero & Alejandro Ponce, eds.), available at
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Trade Union Density, available at (extracted Sep. 30, 2011)