Trade unions and the well‐being of workers

Using data on nearly 2 million respondents from the United States and Europe, we show the partial correlation between union membership and employee job satisfaction is positive and statistically significant. This runs counter to findings in the seminal work of Freeman and Borjas in the 1970s. For the United States, we show the association between union membership and job satisfaction switched from negative to positive in the 2000s. Cohorts with positive union effects over time come to dominate those with negative effects. The negative association between membership and job satisfaction is apparent in cohorts born before the 1960s but turns positive for those born between the 1960s and 1990s. Analyses for Europe since the 2000s confirm the positive association between union membership and worker well‐being is apparent elsewhere. Panel estimates for the United Kingdom also find a positive relation between union membership and job satisfaction. A positive union association with other aspects of worker well‐being including life satisfaction, happiness and trust is apparent in cross‐sectional data for Europe. Union members are also less likely to be stressed, worried, depressed, sad or lonely. The findings have important implications for our understanding of trade unionism.