M. Armstrongstassen, PRODUCTION WORKERS REACTIONS TO A PLANT CLOSING - THE ROLE OF TRANSFER, STRESS, AND SUPPORT, Anxiety, stress, and coping, 6(3), 1993, pp. 201-214
This study investigated the reactions of Canadian unionized production
workers following a plant closing announcement. Workers who had been
transferred reported significantly greater job security, more trust in
the company, greater commitment to the company, and higher job perfor
mance than workers who remained at the plant. They also reported less
trust in their union than the remaining workers. Perceived supervisor
support was positively related to company trust and company commitment
and perceived union support was positively associated with union trus
t and union commitment. High stress appraisal (perceived injustice and
job insecurity) was associated with increased strain, lower job perfo
rmance, reduced trust in the company, and reduced company commitment,
but had no significant effect on the union-related outcomes. The impli
cations of these findings for companies and unions are discussed.