ILR Impact Brief - Union Leaders' Actions Can Rev Up the Rank and File

Abstract

[Excerpt] Local union leaders engage in activities that concern internal affairs and others that pertain to external matters. These internal and external orientations are elements of leadership that affect how members feel about and perceive their union, which in turn affect their allegiance and commitment to the union. Specifically, beliefs about how well the union delivers on wages, benefits, and working conditions (instrumentality) and perceptions of wage equity and the degree of rank-and-file voice in decisions (distributive and procedural justice, respectively) at least partially mediate the link between local leaders’ actions and members’ loyalty to, and willingness to work for, the union.