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The financial status of national unions

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  • Marick F. Masters
  • Raymond F. Gibney
  • Robert Albright

Abstract

The longstanding concerted attacks on unions from multiple fronts in the United States have threatened to undermine labour's institutional security. Though much has been written on the nature and scope of labour's declining membership, less research exists on unions' financial state. We have addressed this void in several ways through an analysis of the finances of 53 major national unions in the United States over the years between 2006 and 2019. Our study has reported on the financial resources and performance of these 53 national unions on aggregated and disaggregated bases. Building from relevant theory, we have analysed an exploratory model to identify the determinants of variation in union financial resources and performance. We have shown that the unions' net worth over the 2006–2019 span deteriorated, though, in aggregation, their member‐based income grew. The unions have maintained high levels of liquidity and resilience in their capacity to fund their operating budgets. Business Income has fallen as a share of overall net revenues. Disaggregated data have shown vast variation in financial resources and performance across unions and over time. Multivariate analyses suggest differences correlated with selected organizational and environmental factors, such as union density, earnings and membership levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Marick F. Masters & Raymond F. Gibney & Robert Albright, 2022. "The financial status of national unions," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(4), pages 303-335, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:indrel:v:53:y:2022:i:4:p:303-335
    DOI: 10.1111/irj.12374
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Paul Clark & Lois Gray, 2008. "Administrative Practices in American Unions: A Longitudinal Study," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 29(1), pages 42-55, March.
    2. Nathan Belfer, 1949. "Financial Resources of Trade-Unions," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 57(2), pages 157-157.
    3. Philip Taft, 1946. "Dues and Initiation Fees in Labor Unions," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 60(2), pages 219-232.
    4. Paul Willman & Alex Bryson & John Forth, 2020. "UK Unions, Collective Action and the Cost Disease," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 58(2), pages 447-470, June.
    5. Paul Willman, 1990. "The Financial Status and Performance of British Trade Unions, 1950–1988," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 28(3), pages 313-327, November.
    6. Ronald Ehrenberg & Steven Goldberg, 1977. "Officer Performance and Compensation in Local Building Trades Unions," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 30(2), pages 188-196, January.
    7. Sara Gamm, 1979. "The Election Base of National Union Executive Boards," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 32(3), pages 295-311, April.
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