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Crisis, economic uncertainty and union members' attitudes towards immigration in Europe

Author

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  • Antonio Martín Artiles

    (Institute for Study of Labour, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Email: antonio.martin@uab.es)

  • Oscar Molina

    (Institute for Study of Labour, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Email: molina.oscar@uab.es)

Abstract

The literature identifies three key factors that shape attitudes towards immigration: socio-economic uncertainty, ideology and the institutional framework. The aim of this article is to take a closer look at the differences in trade union members' attitudes to immigration and the factors that determine them. We test three hypotheses by addressing three questions. First, what are the differences between the attitudes of trade union members and non-members with regard to immigration? Second, how are attitudes affected by material socio-economic variables? Third, how do different institutional frameworks and contexts affect trade union members' attitudes? We conclude that attitudes can be explained by the interaction between economic and ideological variables. This has important implications for trade union strategies geared towards the integration of migrant workers. La littérature specialisée identifie trois facteurs clé qui déterminent les attitudes vis-à -vis de l’immigration: les incertitudes socio-économiques, l’idéologie et le cadre institutionnel. Le but de cet article est d’examiner de plus près les différences dans les attitudes des syndiqués à l’égard de l’immigration et les facteurs qui déterminent ces différences. Nous testons trois hypothèses en examinant trois questions. Primo , quelles sont les différences entre les attitudes des syndiqués et des non-syndiqués à l’égard de l’immigration? Secundo , comment ces attitudes sont-elles affectées par des variables socio-économiques significatives? Tertio , comment des cadres et des contextes institutionnels différents affectent-t-ils les attitudes des syndiqués? Nous concluons que les attitudes peuvent s'expliquer par l’interaction entre des variables économiques et idéologiques. Cela a d’importantes conséquences pour les stratégies syndicales visant l’intégration des travailleurs migrants. In der Fachliteratur werden drei Schlüsselfaktoren genannt, die die Einstellungen zur Immigration beeinflussen: sozioökonomische Unsicherheit, Ideologie und institutionelle Rahmenbedingungen. Dieser Beitrag untersucht die Unterschiede in den Einstellungen von Gewerkschaftsmitgliedern zur Zuwanderung und die entscheidenden Faktoren dafür. Wir überprüfen drei Hypothesen anhand von drei Fragestellungen: Welche Unterschiede bestehen zwischen den Einstellungen von Gewerkschaftsmitgliedern und nicht gewerkschaftlich organisierten Arbeitnehmern zur Immigration? Welchen Einfluss haben materielle sozioökonomische Variablen auf diese Einstellungen? Und wie wirken sich verschiedene institutionelle Rahmenbedingungen auf die Einstellungen von Gewerkschaftsmitgliedern aus? Wir gelangen zu dem Schluss, dass sich die Einstellungen aus der Interaktion wirtschaftlicher und ideologischer Variablen ergeben. Diese Erkenntnis hat bedeutende Folgen für die Gewerkschaftsstrategien zur Integration von Wanderarbeitnehmern.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonio Martín Artiles & Oscar Molina, 2011. "Crisis, economic uncertainty and union members' attitudes towards immigration in Europe," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 17(4), pages 453-469, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:treure:v:17:y:2011:i:4:p:453-469
    DOI: 10.1177/1024258911419752
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    References listed on IDEAS

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