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The role of labor unions in creating working conditions that promote public health

Author

Listed:
  • Hagedorn, J.
  • Paras, C.A.
  • Greenwich, H.
  • Hagopian, A.

Abstract

We sought to portray how collective bargaining contracts promote public health, beyond their known effect on individual, family, and community well-being. In November 2014, we created an abstraction tool to identify health-related elements in 16 union contracts from industries in the Pacific Northwest. After enumerating the contract-protected benefits and working conditions, we interviewed union organizers and members to learn how these promoted health. Labor union contracts create higher wage and benefit standards, working hours limits, workplace hazards protections, and other factors. Unions also promote well-being by encouraging democratic participation and a sense of community among workers. Labor union contracts are largely underutilized, but a potentially fertile ground for public health innovation. Public health practitioners and labor unions would benefit by partnering to create sophisticated contracts to address social determinants of health.

Suggested Citation

  • Hagedorn, J. & Paras, C.A. & Greenwich, H. & Hagopian, A., 2016. "The role of labor unions in creating working conditions that promote public health," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 106(6), pages 989-995.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2016.303138_6
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2016.303138
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Lee, Nagyeong & Sung, Hyoju & Kim, Ji-Hwan & Punnett, Laura & Kim, Seung-Sup, 2017. "Perceived discrimination and low back pain among 28,532 workers in South Korea: Effect modification by labor union status," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 198-204.
    2. Dodini, Samuel & Stansbury, Anna & Willén, Alexander, 2023. "How Do Firms Respond to Unions?," Discussion Paper Series in Economics 25/2023, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Economics.
    3. Aurora B. Le & Abas Shkembi & Anna C. Sturgis & Anupon Tadee & Shawn G. Gibbs & Richard L. Neitzel, 2022. "Effort–Reward Imbalance among a Sample of Formal US Solid Waste Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-12, June.
    4. Dodini, Samuel & Salvanes, Kjell G. & Willén, Alexander & Zhu, Li, 2023. "The Career Effects of Union Membership," Discussion Paper Series in Economics 12/2023, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Economics.
    5. Margaret C. Morrissey & Zachary Yukio Kerr & Gabrielle J. Brewer & Faton Tishukaj & Douglas J. Casa & Rebecca L. Stearns, 2023. "Analysis of Exertion-Related Injuries and Fatalities in Laborers in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-14, February.
    6. Bastien Alvarez & Gianluca Orefice & Farid Toubal, 2022. "Trade Liberalization, Collective Bargaining and Workers: Wages and Working Conditions," Working Papers 2022-02, CEPII research center.
    7. Goel Treviño‐Reyna & Katarzyna Czabanowska & Sharmi Haque & Christine M. Plepys & Laura Magaña & John Middleton, 2021. "Employment outcomes and job satisfaction of international public health professionals: What lessons for public health and COVID‐19 pandemic preparedness? Employment outcomes of public health graduates," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(S1), pages 124-150, May.
    8. Gihleb, Rania & Giuntella, Osea & Tan, Jian Qi, 2023. "The Impact of Right-to-Work Laws on Long Hours and Work Schedules," IZA Discussion Papers 16588, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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