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Explaining leaving union membership by the degree of labour market attachment: Exploring the case of Germany

Author

Listed:
  • Janine Leschke

    (Copenhagen Business School, Denmark)

  • Kurt Vandaele

    (European Trade Union Institute, Brussels)

Abstract

By particularly stressing the weaker labour market attachment of workers with non-standard contracts, this article contributes to the rather unexplored issue of mainly non-union-related reasons for leaving trade unions. Germany has been selected as a case study because German unions experienced a steady decline in membership, while at the same time non-standard employment arrangements increased considerably and more so than the European average. Using the German Socio-Economic Panel data, the authors construct a labour market attachment variable capturing different degrees of attachment. Their analysis shows the impact of labour market attachment and firm-level characteristics on union leaving and points especially to important differences across gender.

Suggested Citation

  • Janine Leschke & Kurt Vandaele, 2018. "Explaining leaving union membership by the degree of labour market attachment: Exploring the case of Germany," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 39(1), pages 64-86, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:39:y:2018:i:1:p:64-86
    DOI: 10.1177/0143831X15603456
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    References listed on IDEAS

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