The influence of union membership status on workers’ willingness to participate in joint consultation

Abstract

This study investigates the willingness of workers in a unionized environment to participate in a joint consultation committee (JCC). It focuses on the differences between union members and non-members. We derived hypotheses from a consumer services theoretical approach to participation in collective activities. Using hierarchical regression, we analysed the survey responses of 1456 employees in a large Australian public sector organization. Members were more willing to participate in the JCC the more they expected instrumental outcomes and the more they valued discussion of issues that lay outside collective bargaining. They were less willing to participate the more they valued discussions about issues normally dealt with in union-based negotiations. Non-members were more willing to participate, the more they expected the JCC to result in democratic representation.