CROSS-LEVEL ANALYSIS OF THE INFLUENCE OF LOCAL UNION STRUCTURE ON WOMENS AND MENS UNION COMMITMENT

The authors tested the influence of structural features of local union s (N = 43) on members' union commitment (N = 539) as moderated by memb ers' gender. By using a cross-level analysis, they identified local st ructure with officers' ratings of innovation, formalization, and centr alization. An anticipated interaction between gender and innovation wa s not found. However, as predicted, women's commitment was positively related to formalization and negatively related to centralization. In contrast, men's commitment was only slightly influenced by local forma lization but was positively related to centralization. The need for st ructural redesign to enhance members' commitment, particularly among w omen, was discussed.