Two roads diverged: Legal context and changing levels of private and public sector union density in the US states, 1984–2019
Keyword(s):
The Us
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This article examines the causes of the different historical trajectories of US union membership in the private and public sectors, a topic relevant for understanding the link between unions and industrial democracy. The article focuses on the different legal contexts shaping membership in these two sectors, especially the role of right-to-work (RTW) and public sector collective bargaining (PSCB) laws. Using state-level data from 1984 to 2019, the study finds that RTW laws decrease, and PSCB laws increase union membership in both sectors, suggesting cross-over effects. The authors conclude with a discussion of the implications of these findings for the prospects of expanding economic and industrial democracy.
Keyword(s):
2021 ◽
Vol 49
(1)
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pp. 115-136
Keyword(s):
2015 ◽
Vol 2
(3)
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pp. 188-192
Keyword(s):
2016 ◽
Vol 42
(2)
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pp. 377-385
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