Work

The union default: Increasing union membership by facilitating the experience of unionism and overcoming the role of inertia

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: By understanding both the role of unions as an ‘experience good’ and the place of inertia in contributing to the prevalence of non-unionism, this article suggests that a union default could have a major impact in recruiting new members. Drawing upon a sub-sample of non-union workers in unionised workplaces from a study conducted in New Zealand, the authors show that a significant minority would stay in membership and support a union default. These results have positive implications for understanding how to shape the preferences of non-union workers in union and non-union workplaces.

Source: Economic and Industrial Democracy

DOI: 10.1177/0143831x241272968

Authors: Mark Harcourt, Gregor Gall, Margaret Wilson

Institutions: University of Waikato, University of Leeds

Language: English

Topic: Labor Movements and Unions

Subfield: Public Administration

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: New Zealand Law Foundation