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Union Density Effects in the Supermarket Industry

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  • ROBERT C. JOHANSSON
  • JAY S. COGGINS

Abstract

Unions provide higher than competitive wages for members, but their effect on nonunion wages is not clear. We investigate the effect of union density on supermarket wages from 1986 to 1993, a period of declining real wages and declining union membership. Full-information maximum likelihood techniques are used to estimate log wage equations for both the union and nonunion sectors. Decomposition techniques then separate the union wage premium into the relative effects of densities and union membership. We find a significant, positive effect of union density for both union and nonunion employees. This effect explains approximately one-third of the union-nonunion wage differential.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert C. Johansson & Jay S. Coggins, 2002. "Union Density Effects in the Supermarket Industry," Journal of Labor Research, Transaction Publishers, vol. 23(4), pages 673-684, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:tra:jlabre:v:23:y:2002:i:4:p:673-684
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    Cited by:

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    2. Edgar Preugschat, 2009. "Unionization Patterns and Firm Reallocation," 2009 Meeting Papers 1114, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    3. Coombs, Christopher & Newman, Robert & Cebula, Richard & White, Mary, 2013. "The Bargaining Power of Health Care Unions: Union Wage Premiums for Registered Nurses in Hospitals," MPRA Paper 56223, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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