UNION REPRESENTATION ELECTIONS IN LARGE AND SMALL MANUFACTURING FIRMS- AN EMPIRICAL-INVESTIGATION

This study examines union election activity in U.S. small and large fi rms. National Labor Relations Board Election Reports (October 1989 to September 1992) are used to examine how various factors influence elec tion outcomes in small and large firms. Results show that in this peri od more elections were held in small firms than large firms. Evidence suggests that, compared to other types of unions, local unions that ar e not AFL-CIO affiliated have the lowest win rates in both large and s mall firms. The presence of AFL-CIO affiliated unions has a negative i nfluence on union win rates in small firms but not in large firms. Uni on win rates are significantly higher in multiple union elections than in single union elections regardless of firm size. This result was mo re pronounced, however, in small firms. The number of union elections in large firms was highest in the South. The number of union elections in small firms was highest in the Midwest. Southern location had a ne gative impact on union success in both large and small firms. This stu dy also found that, although states with right-to-work (RTW) laws had considerably fewer elections, they have higher union win rates than no n-RTW states regardless of firm size.