This paper examines a number of propositions put
forward in the literature concerning the closed
shop or compulsory unionism, and examines the
level of agreement amongst 280 Western
Australian managers. The research shows a
generally strong anti‐closed shop sentiment with
a tendency to reject propositions which imply that
the closed shop can be beneficial to management,
and acceptance of propositions which imply the
closed shop merely benefits unions or is in itself
undesirable.