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Choosing union representation: the role of attitudes and emotions

Author

Listed:
  • Adrienne E. Eaton
  • Sean E. Rogers
  • Tracy F. H. Chang
  • Paula B. Voos

Abstract

In the United States, most unions are recognised by a majority vote of employees through union representation elections administered by the government. Most empirical studies of individual voting behaviour during union representation elections use a rational choice model. Recently, however, some have posited that voting is often influenced by emotions. We evaluate competing hypotheses about the determinants of union voting behaviour by using data collected from a 2010 representation election at Delta Air Lines, a US-based company. In addition to the older rational choice framework, multiple regression results provide support for an emotional choice model. Positive feelings toward the employer are statistically significantly related to voting ‘no’ in a representation election, while positive feelings toward the union are related to a ‘yes’ vote. Effect sizes for the emotion variables were generally larger than those for the rational choice variables, suggesting that emotions may play a key role in representation election outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Adrienne E. Eaton & Sean E. Rogers & Tracy F. H. Chang & Paula B. Voos, 2014. "Choosing union representation: the role of attitudes and emotions," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(2), pages 169-188, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:indrel:v:45:y:2014:i:2:p:169-188
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/irj.12056
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bruce E. Kaufman, 2013. "Keeping the Commitment Model in the Air during Turbulent Times: Employee Involvement at Delta Air Lines," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52, pages 343-377, January.
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    3. Arthur Martinez & Jack Fiorito, 2009. "General Feelings Toward Unions and Employers as Predictors of Union Voting Intent," Journal of Economic Interaction and Coordination, Springer;Society for Economic Science with Heterogeneous Interacting Agents, vol. 30(2), pages 120-134, June.
    4. Arthur Martinez & Jack Fiorito, 2009. "General Feelings Toward Unions and Employers as Predictors of Union Voting Intent," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 30(2), pages 120-134, June.
    5. Daniel Kahneman, 2003. "Maps of Bounded Rationality: Psychology for Behavioral Economics," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 93(5), pages 1449-1475, December.
    6. Steven L. Blader, 2007. "What Leads Organizational Members to Collectivize? Injustice and Identification as Precursors of Union Certification," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 18(1), pages 108-126, February.
    7. Stephen M. Hills, 1985. "The Attitudes of Union and Nonunion Male Workers toward Union Representation," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 38(2), pages 179-194, January.
    8. Farber, Henry S & Saks, Daniel H, 1980. "Why Workers Want Unions: The Role of Relative Wages and Job Characteristics," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 88(2), pages 349-369, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Robert Armstrong & Michael Floren & Jason Imbrogno & Keith Malone, 2024. "Impacts of racial diversity and firm size on union voting behavior in Alabama," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(1), pages 20-32, January.
    2. Sinisa Hadziabdic & Lorenzo Frangi, 2022. "Rationalizing the irrational: Making sense of (in)consistency among union members and non-members," European Journal of Industrial Relations, , vol. 28(2), pages 147-174, June.

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