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Why do people join trade unions? The impact of workplace union density on union recruitment

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  • Jonas Toubøl
  • Carsten Strøby Jensen

Abstract

Against the background of the general decline in union membership in Western countries, this study analyses factors influencing an individual’s choice whether to join a trade union. The focus is on the effects of workplace union density and individual political attitudes. Micro data covering the entire Danish workforce combined with European Social Survey data enable for the first time the statistical analysis of the effect workplace union density has on union recruitment. Workplace union density is used to measure the power of social custom in workplace union membership, constituting an instrumental motive for joining the union. Self-placement on a political left-right scale measures political attitude which is assumed to constitute a value-rational motive. The statistical results indicate that workplace union density is the main predictor of whether or not an employee is going to join a union, even when other variables such as gender, occupation and industry worked in are taken into consideration. In addition, the results indicate that political attitude is also an important factor.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonas Toubøl & Carsten Strøby Jensen, 2014. "Why do people join trade unions? The impact of workplace union density on union recruitment," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 20(1), pages 135-154, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:treure:v:20:y:2014:i:1:p:135-154
    DOI: 10.1177/1024258913516902
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lorenzo Frangi & Mauro Barisione, 2015. "‘Are you a union member?’ Determinants and trends of subjective union membership in Italian society (1972–2013)," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 21(4), pages 451-469, November.
    2. Jane Holgate & Gabriella Alberti & Iona Byford & Ian Greenwood, 2021. "Trade union community membership: exploring what people who are not in paid employment could contribute to union activism," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 27(4), pages 469-483, November.
    3. Mark Harcourt & Gregor Gall & Margaret Wilson & Korey Rubenstein, 2022. "The potential of a union default to influence the preferences and choices of non-union workers in unionised workplaces," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 43(4), pages 1817-1841, November.
    4. Marcial Sánchez-Mosquera, 2024. "The influence of the political attitudes of workers and the effect of the Great Recession on the decision to join a trade union in Southern Europe," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 45(2), pages 579-599, May.
    5. Mark Harcourt & Gregor Gall & Margaret Wilson, 2024. "The union default: Free‐riding solutions," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(4), pages 267-284, July.

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