“It’s Not Just Numbers”: Union Employees’ Perceptions of Union Effectiveness

Abstract

This paper presents a new approach to the measurement of union effectiveness: using a framework derived from existing theory, this is applied in an Australian setting, capturing the views of ninety‐eight union officials, administrative and industrial staff, through a qualitative empirical study.

Union effectiveness: In search of the Holy Grail

“…The point is that whatever the decided goals, clarity is needed in whose goals are or are not being evaluated when assessing union effectiveness. Studies which were explicit on this score include Fiorito et al (1997), focusing in this instance upon national union leader perception, Frege's (2002) use of local leaders' perceptions of influence, Burchielli's (2004) respondents being union field officers and Bryson's (2005) survey of workers and members.…”

“…If measures are to be subjective, who are the subjects that give rise to them? Prior research used subjective views from employees in unionized workplaces (Bryson, 2005), union staff (Burchielli, 2004), convention delegates (Gahan and Bell, 1999) and national officers and staff (Fiorito et al, 1995), to name just a few possibilities. Second, should it be assumed that all unions have the same overall purpose but that this is expressed through different specific goals?…”

Turnover intentions, training and motivations among Australian union staff

“…Yu (2018) examined union staff ideals and their impact on organisational inclusivity, role boundaries and career development, however this was a qualitative exploration in the United States and did not quantify any theorised relationships. Within an Australian context, Burchielli (2004) also used a qualitative methodology to explore union employees' opinions and developed a theoretical model of effectiveness that included ideology as a central pillar. Few studies have reached beyond these broad overviews of collective values or political affiliation -as typically linked to union members -to isolate specific motivational drivers of union staff.…”

Pengaruh Organisasi Kesatuan dan Sikap Majikan terhadap Keberkesanan Kesatuan dalam Kalangan Pegawai-pegawai Kesatuan Sekerja

“…Ini kerana kedua-dua dimensi ini merangkumi kesemua definisi yang dinyatakan oleh para sarjana. Bryson (2003) organisasi kesatuan s kesatuan kapasiti untu sihat sebagai sebuah o konsep persepsi sok ahli-ahli bahawa kesat serta mengambil bera ahli kesatuan (Shore (2003) erjaan, perlindungan an dengan orang lain esanan kesatuan oleh ya, Burchielli (2004) satuan berdasarkan sanan kesatuan iaitu i. Shore et al (1994) esatuan kepada dua kepada pendekatan perjanjian bersama kenaikan pangkat, atan dan kesihatan).…”