Cornell University
Library
Cornell UniversityLibrary

eCommons

Help
Log In(current)
DigitalCollections@ILR
ILR School
  1. Home
  2. ILR School
  3. ILR Collection
  4. ILR Policy & Issue Briefs
  5. ILR Impact Brief - It’s a Paradox: Union Workers Less Satisfied but Less Likely to Quit

ILR Impact Brief - It’s a Paradox: Union Workers Less Satisfied but Less Likely to Quit

File(s)
HammerAvgar.pdf (124.43 KB)
Permanent Link(s)
https://hdl.handle.net/1813/73113
Collections
ILR Policy & Issue Briefs
Faculty Publications - Organizational Behavior
ILR Impact Briefs
Author
Hammer, Tove H.
Avgar, Ariel C.
Abstract

[Excerpt] Existing economic models of human behavior do not adequately deal with the seeming inconsistency between union members’ attitudes about their jobs and their subsequent actions. A more promising explanation might derive from job satisfaction theory, which suggests that union members have a particular set of values, expectations, and frames of reference that they use to evaluate the outcomes of their work effort. Individuals who join unions may place higher value on wages and benefits, which are the focus of most collectively- bargained contracts, than do non-union workers; historically, unions have delivered in this regard. Unionized workers may be more dissatisfied because of a more adversarial climate (e.g., testy supervisory and interpersonal relations, narrowly-defined jobs) but are less likely to quit because the things they value most—good wages and benefits—are provided.

Journal / Series
Impact Brief
Date Issued
2007-10-01
Keywords
job satisfaction
•
job dissatisfaction
•
union membership
•
wages
•
benefits
Rights
Required Publisher Statement: Copyright by Cornell University.
Type
newsletter

Site Statistics | Help

About eCommons | Policies | Terms of use | Contact Us

copyright © 2002-2026 Cornell University Library | Privacy | Web Accessibility Assistance