Me. Gordon et As. Denisi, A REEXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UNION MEMBERSHIP AND JOB-SATISFACTION, Industrial & labor relations review, 48(2), 1995, pp. 222-236
Two seemingly contradictory findings reported in the recent industrial
relations literature are that union members are less satisfied with t
heir jobs than are nonmembers and yet are less inclined to leave their
jobs. Because those results are based on several national probability
samples, the authors argue that they may result from a sampling metho
dology that confounds union membership with working conditions. In thi
s study, in contrast, which uses data from 1980 and 1986 on union memb
ers and nonmembers in three bargaining units in which union membership
was not required, it is possible to control for working conditions wh
en examining the effect of union membership on job satisfaction. The r
esults across all three samples indicate no effect of union membership
on either job satisfaction or the intent to quit.