The potential of a union default to influence the preferences and choices of non-union workers in unionised workplaces. (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Harcourt, Mark; Gall, Gregor; Wilson, Margaret; Rubenstein, Korey
• Is Part Of: Economic and industrial democracy. Volume 43:Number 4(2022)
• Page Start: 1817
• Page End: 1841
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: Employee choice -- employment relations -- union membership; Management -- Employee participation -- Periodicals; 331.0112
• DOI: 10.1177/0143831X211030346
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-831X

Abstract

This article questions the perception of non-union workers as rather rigid and out-of-reach non-unionists by using research conducted in New Zealand. It explores whether, under new institutional architecture, non-unionists would continue to exhibit the same preferences and exercise the same choices as before. This was done by testing their responses to a union default scenario. The significance of this study concerns how this particular group of workers, contra non-union workers in non-union workplaces, would react to a union default where a union is already available to them. By contrast, non-union workers in non-union workplaces not only at present have effectively no choice for gaining union representation but are also bereft of any experience of it in their workplace. The results suggest 44% of these employees would join as a result of a union default with union density consequently rising in New Zealand from 17–18% to 26–27%.