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Employees' Perspective on Non-Union Representation: A Comparison with Unions

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  • Dong-One Kim

    (Korea University)

Abstract

This study uses survey data from 857 employees of three unionized and three non-union establishments in Korea to compare employees' perspectives on non-union works councils and unions with regard to perceptual, attitudinal and behavioural dimensions. A majority of the hypotheses received fairly strong empirical support. Compared with unions, works councils were found to be lower in terms of perceived performance and employees' commitment, and depended more on employers. Union commitment and union participation were positively related with existence needs, but works council commitment and works council participation were positively related with relatedness needs. The results were interpreted to support the separate domain perspective (i.e. unions and non-union employee representation [NER] serve different purposes) and the complementarity view (i.e. union and NER develop interdependencies and NER cannot substitute unions).

Suggested Citation

  • Dong-One Kim, 2009. "Employees' Perspective on Non-Union Representation: A Comparison with Unions," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 30(1), pages 120-151, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:30:y:2009:i:1:p:120-151
    DOI: 10.1177/0143831X08099436
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David Guest & Neil Conway, 1999. "Peering into the Black Hole: The Downside of the New Employment Relations in the UK," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 37(3), pages 367-389, September.
    2. Patrick C. Flood & Bill Toner, 1997. "Large Non-Union Companies: How Do They Avoid a Catch 22?," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 35(2), pages 257-277, June.
    3. Joel Rogers & Wolfgang Streeck, 1995. "The Study of Works Councils: Concepts and Problems," NBER Chapters, in: Works Councils: Consultation, Representation, and Cooperation in Industrial Relations, pages 3-26, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Towers, Brian, 1997. "The Representation Gap: Change and Reform in the British and American Workplace," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198289463.
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    1. Jimmy Donaghey & Niall Cullinane & Tony Dundon & Tony Dobbins, 2012. "Non-union employee representation, union avoidance and the managerial agenda," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 33(2), pages 163-183, May.

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