Rethinking the union membership/job satisfaction relationship

Abstract

This paper examines differences in the level of job satisfaction reported by union workers and non‐union employees. There is a strong belief in the literature that union status reduces job satisfaction. Based on different national probability samples, previous studies have generally failed to adequately control for differences in working conditions between the two sectors while studying the impacts of unions on job satisfaction. Union workers generally have a poorer working environment. The negative relationship reported between union status and job satisfaction might only reflect this differential if differences in working conditions are not taken into account. Using a large representative sample of 3,352 workers from the Canadian General Social Survey of 1989, this study replicates previous econometric specifications. The results of ordered‐probit regression show a negative relationship between union status and job satisfaction, but as expected, this relationship disappears when an adequate control for differences in working conditions is applied. It is concluded that union status is not negatively associated with job satisfaction in Canada.

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