Trade Unions and the Welfare of Rural-Urban Migrant Workers in China. (August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Booth, Alison; Freeman, Richard; Meng, Xin; Zhang, Jilu
• Is Part Of: Industrial and labor relations review. Volume 75:Number 4(2022)
• Page Start: 974
• Page End: 1000
• Publication Date: 2022-08
• Subjects: trade unions -- rural-urban migration -- China -- wage -- welfare; Industrial relations -- Periodicals; 331.05
• DOI: 10.1177/00197939211004440
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0019-7939

Abstract

Using a panel survey, the authors investigate how the welfare of rural-urban migrant workers in China is affected by trade union presence at the workplace. Controlling for individual fixed effects, they find the following. Relative to workers from workplaces without union presence or with inactive unions, both union-covered non-members and union members in workplaces with active unions earn higher monthly income, are more likely to have a written contract, be covered by social insurances, receive fringe benefits, express work-related grievances through official channels, feel more satisfied with their lives, and are less likely to have mental health problems.