TY - JOUR
T1 - Workers and the demand for trade unions in Europe
T2 - Still a relevant social force?
AU - D'Art, Daryl
AU - Turner, Thomas
PY - 2008/5
Y1 - 2008/5
N2 - In many European countries since the 1980s there has been a considerable decline in union density. Using the European Social Survey, this article examines whether declining union density reflects declining worker demand for the protective and enabling functions traditionally provided by union membership. Results indicate that a substantial majority of respondents believe that employees need the protection of strong unions. Irrespective of the respondent's occupational level, the extent of job autonomy, gender, age or political orientation, positive attitudes towards unions are consistently in the majority. The results show not only the persistence of a strong belief in the necessity for trade unions but a strengthening of this conviction among employees since the early 1980s.
AB - In many European countries since the 1980s there has been a considerable decline in union density. Using the European Social Survey, this article examines whether declining union density reflects declining worker demand for the protective and enabling functions traditionally provided by union membership. Results indicate that a substantial majority of respondents believe that employees need the protection of strong unions. Irrespective of the respondent's occupational level, the extent of job autonomy, gender, age or political orientation, positive attitudes towards unions are consistently in the majority. The results show not only the persistence of a strong belief in the necessity for trade unions but a strengthening of this conviction among employees since the early 1980s.
KW - Representation
KW - Union decline
KW - Union demand
KW - Union relevance
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=42149094404&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0143831X07088540
DO - 10.1177/0143831X07088540
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:42149094404
SN - 0143-831X
VL - 29
SP - 165
EP - 191
JO - Economic and Industrial Democracy
JF - Economic and Industrial Democracy
IS - 2
ER -