scholarly journals The potential of a union default to influence the preferences and choices of non-union workers in unionised workplaces

2021 ◽  
pp. 0143831X2110303
Author(s):  
Mark Harcourt ◽  
Gregor Gall ◽  
Margaret Wilson ◽  
Korey Rubenstein
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Union Density ◽  
Non Union ◽  
Union Representation ◽  
Institutional Architecture

This article questions the perception of non-union workers as rather rigid and out-of-reach non-unionists by using research conducted in New Zealand. It explores whether, under new institutional architecture, non-unionists would continue to exhibit the same preferences and exercise the same choices as before. This was done by testing their responses to a union default scenario. The significance of this study concerns how this particular group of workers, contra non-union workers in non-union workplaces, would react to a union default where a union is already available to them. By contrast, non-union workers in non-union workplaces not only at present have effectively no choice for gaining union representation but are also bereft of any experience of it in their workplace. The results suggest 44% of these employees would join as a result of a union default with union density consequently rising in New Zealand from 17–18% to 26–27%.

Delivering Organizational Change in Partnership With Trade Unions

2019 ◽  
pp. 387-397
Author(s):  
Gaye A. Greenwood ◽  
Carolyn Ward
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Organizational Change ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Union Membership ◽  
Case History ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Union Density ◽  
Pivotal Role ◽  
Workplace Conditions ◽  
Union Leaders

This case history offers an insiders' view of bringing about change in union bargaining within major New Zealand organizations. While unions play a pivotal role in the day-to-day bargaining of wages and workplace conditions, there has been a significant reduction in union density and membership. In this case, two union leaders narrate how a shift from traditional bargaining to interest-based negotiation enabled participation in organizational change decision-making, built trust in relationships, and increased union membership.

Answering Skeptics

2021 ◽  
pp. 109-145
Author(s):  
David Madland
Keyword(s):  
Labor Unions ◽  
Union Density ◽  
The United States ◽  
Bargaining Unit ◽  
Finance Reform ◽  
Non Union ◽  
Implementation Challenges ◽  
The Us ◽  
Labor System ◽  
New System

This chapter considers whether the new labor system could work as intended in the United States and whether alternative policies could better address the country's economic and political problems. It reviews some of the likely implementation challenges the new system would face, including determining the appropriate bargaining unit in a broad-based system and relationship friction between national and local unions, and finds, based on the US historical experience, that the challenges are likely manageable. It also reviews alternatives to the new labor system and argues that while most would be helpful, all have limitations. Other strategies to strengthen labor, such as increased organizing by unions and banning right-to-work laws, are necessary but on their own would not sufficiently increase union density or dramatically increase collective bargaining coverage. Non-union policies — from increased training to a jobs guarantee to campaign finance reform — would do less to raise wages, reduce inequality, or increase political voice. These often rely on strong labor unions to work best. All told, the new labor system is practical and necessary.

Union Threat Effects and the Decline in Employer-Provided Health Insurance

ILR Review ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 417-445
Author(s):  
Craig A. Olson
Keyword(s):  
Health Insurance ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
Insurance Coverage ◽  
State Level ◽  
Union Density ◽  
Health Insurance Coverage ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Non Union ◽  
Private Sector Union ◽  
Threat Effect

Employer-provided health insurance decreased by an average of almost 0.6 percentage points per year for adults aged 18 to 64 who were working full-time in the private sector between 1983 and 2007. Most of this decline was among non-union workers. This study reports estimates that suggest the decrease was caused by a decline employers faced in the threat of being unionized, as measured by the drop in state-level private-sector union density over the 25 years and across the 50 states. The author hypothesizes the decline in union density caused some non-union employers to decide not to offer health insurance. The study shows the importance of accounting for measurement error in union density when estimating the declining threat effect of unionization on non-union employer-provided health insurance coverage.

scholarly journals The Predictors of Unmet Demand for Unions in Non-Union Workplaces: Lessons from Australia

2017 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 270-293
Author(s):  
Amanda Pyman ◽  
Julian Teicher ◽  
Brian Cooper ◽  
Peter Holland
Keyword(s):  
Final Analysis ◽  
Union Density ◽  
Non Union ◽  
Unmet Demand ◽  
Growth Prospects ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Managerial Responsiveness ◽  
Future Growth ◽  
Union Instrumentality

In this study, we examine the predictors of unmet demand for unions in non-union workplaces, using theAustralian Worker Representation and Participation Survey(AWRPS). Unmet demand is defined here, as those employees in non-union workplaces who would be likely to join a union if one were available. We argue that this is the first study in Australia to examine the predictors of unmet demand in non-union workplaces, and, that this is an important line of inquiry given a rise in non-union workplaces and never members in Australia, alongside declining union density and membership numbers. Drawing on three strands of existing literature, namely the individual propensity to unionize, the rise and characteristics of non-union workplaces and alternative forms of representation, and, managerial responsiveness to employees and unions, we develop and test four hypotheses.Our results show, controlling for a range of personal, job and workplace characteristics, that there are two significant predictors of the willingness to join a union in non-union workplaces: perceived union instrumentality (Hypothesis 2) and perceived managerial responsiveness to employees (Hypothesis 4), whereby employees who perceive that managers lack responsiveness are more likely to want to join a union if one were available.These results show that unions must try to enhance their instrumentality in workplaces and could be more effective in recruiting if they targeted never members. The results also show that unions need to have some gauge (measure) of how responsive managers are to employees, and that they can leverage poor responsiveness of managers for membership gain and the extension of organizing. In the final analysis, an understanding of the predictors of unmet demand for unions in non-union workplaces has implications for Australian unions’ servicing and organizing strategies, and for their future growth prospects.

Tipping the Scales for Labour in Ireland? Collective Bargaining and the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2015

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Murphy ◽  
Thomas Turner
Keyword(s):  
Collective Bargaining ◽  
Industrial Relations ◽  
Union Density ◽  
Anglo Saxon ◽  
Social Partnership ◽  
Non Union ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Missed Opportunity

Abstract Trade union density in Ireland has followed a similar pattern of decline to that of other Anglo-Saxon economies in recent decades. However, two factors make Ireland distinctive within this classification of countries, firstly the system of national social partnership that prevailed from 1987 to 2008, and secondly, the absence of a statutory route to union recognition. In this paper, we examine the extent to which a new piece of legislation, the Industrial Relations Amendment Act 2015, provides unions with a route to securing bargaining rights for workers and extends collective bargaining rights generally. We conclude that the Act represents a missed opportunity to offer mechanisms to secure rights for unions and their members capable of delivering collective bargaining to the non-union sector. We situate the paper within debates concerning the role of labour law in supporting workers rights to collective bargaining.

Unmet Demand for Union Membership in Australia

2009 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Pyman ◽  
Julian Teicher ◽  
Brian Cooper ◽  
Peter Holland
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Union Membership ◽  
Union Density ◽  
Non Union ◽  
Younger Workers ◽  
Unmet Demand ◽  
Union Renewal ◽  
Employee Characteristics ◽  
Organizational Tenure ◽  
Practical Implications

Unmet demand for union membership is defined as employees in non-union workplaces who would join a union if given the opportunity. Unmet demand is a significant issue for Australian unions as union density continues to decline and the current legislative environment remains hostile. This article gauges the contours of unmet demand for union membership in Australia, drawing on responses to the Australian Worker Representation and Participation Survey (AWRPS 2004). It finds a significant level of unmet demand for union membership in Australia. Unmet demand varies according to workplace and employee characteristics and is highest among low income earners, younger workers, workers with shorter organizational tenure and workers in routinized occupations. The practical implications of our findings are discussed in relation to union renewal and the legislative environment prevailing in 2008.

US union revival, minority unionism and inter-union conflict

2013 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 653-671 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Harcourt ◽  
Helen Lam ◽  
Geoffrey Wood
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Minority Representation ◽  
Collective Voice ◽  
Legislative Change ◽  
Union Representation ◽  
Union Support ◽  
Union Decline ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Union Competition

One option for reversing US union decline, requiring no legislative change, would involve re-legitimizing non-majority or minority union representation, allowing unions to organize without running the gauntlet of union certification. Such minority representation, applicable only to workplaces without majority union support on a members-only basis, could run in parallel with the existing system of exclusive representation in workplaces where majority support is achieved. The increased representation in the currently unrepresented workplaces would inevitably promote workers’ collective voice and contribute to union revival. However, minority unionism has been criticized for breeding union competition because it is non-exclusive. In this paper, the nature and extent of inter-union conflict under minority unionism are re-examined, using survey data from unions in New Zealand which already has non-exclusive, minority union representation. The low levels and consequences of conflict suggest that the benefits of minority unionism far outweigh any potentially unfavourable effects.

Employer Strategies Towards Non‐Union Collective Voice

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul J. Gollan
Keyword(s):  
Trade Unions ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Industrial Relations ◽  
Union Density ◽  
Non Union ◽  
Collective Voice ◽  
Dual Channel ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Legislative Changes ◽  
Union Voice

Non-union collective voice (NCV) has tended to play a minimal role in many Anglo industrial relations systems, with few formal processes or legal requirements. However, the lack of representative structures covering increasing numbers of non-union employees due to declining levels of trade union density and legislative changes banning closed shop or compulsory union arrangements have prompted the current interest in NCV arrangements. This article explores management strategies towards, and the development of, NCV arrangements and union responses to such arrangements in predominately English-speaking countries. It also tracks the development of dual-channel NCV and union voice arrangements, and examines the interplay between channels of NCV and trade unions. Overall, the article reviews this theory and raises debates around management strategies and issues involved in the process of transition from NCV to unionism.

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