Public Perceptions of Trade Unions in Countries of the European Union

Abstract

Given the ideological, political, and economic structural changes in the latter part of the twentieth century it might be expected that the demand for trade unions has significantly declined. Using a European-wide survey, this article addressed the extent to which European citizens perceive a need for trade unions. Our results indicate that contrary to expectations, a substantial majority of respondents perceived a need for strong trade unions to protect their pay and working conditions. Attitudinal formation appears to be more influenced by individual characteristics than either structural or institutional regimes, at least in a European context. Conversely the institutional measures of union presence and country of origin substantially account for the factors that determine why employees with favorable perceptions of trade unions become a union member. Among employees the extent to which positive attitudes converts into actual union membership appears to be critically dependent on a union-friendly institutional regime.

Expressing Confidence in Unions in Quebec and the Other Canadian Provinces: Similarities and Contrasts in Findings

“…It is not a new finding that individuals who are dissatisfied with wages look at unions more favourably, for instrumental reasons (Turner and D'Art, 2012;Flavin et al, 2010). One explanatory factor behind this situation may lie in the relatively broad field of union action in Quebec.…”

In Unions We Trust! Analysing Confidence in Unions across Europe

“…While there is abundant research on union membership both from a comparative and a longitudinal perspective (see Schnabel ), only few studies have analysed the differences in attitudinal support for unions across countries (e.g. Turner and D'Art ) or over time (e.g. Culpepper and Regan ).…”

İkame Etkisi, Baskı Etkisi ve Bu Etkiler ile Sendikalaşma Eğilimi Arasındaki İlişki

“…Çünkü elde edilebilir bir sendika olmaksızın işçilerin sendikalaşma eğilimini ölçmek anlamsızdır (Turner & D'Art, 2012: 35). Bu ifade, sendikalaşma eğilimini ölçmek için Amerikan ve İngiliz endüstri ilişkileri yazınında kullanılan ifadelerle uyumludur (Freeman, 2007;Turner & D'Art, 2012).…”

“…İkinci amaç, sendikalaşma eğiliminin düzeyini belirlemektir. Bu amaç gerçekleştiği takdirde, son zamanlarda arttığı vurgulanan sendika talebinin (Charlwood, 2002(Charlwood, , 2003Freeman, 2007;Turner & D'Art, 2012) Türkiye'deki çalışma ilişkilerine teşmil edilip edilemeyeceği hakkında bilgi edinilebilecektir. Çalışmanın üçüncü ve son amacı ise ikame ve baskı etkilerinin sendikalaşma eğilimi üzerindeki etkisini tespit etmektir.…”