Chapter 9 - Collective voice and union effectiveness: Is relational capital the missing link?

Abstract

Whereas trade union members rely on their unions to safeguard their rights in the workplace and to improve their economic well-being, the influence of unions has been on the wane along with the decline in union membership. This study was carried out to explore the role of relational capital in mediating the effectiveness of unions responding to members’ needs and expectations. The Relational Capital Theory was tested in the context of Malaysian trade unions to evaluate if a strong bond could be established between the union and its members through the three principal elements of the theory, namely communication, commitment and trust. Study data were obtained from 443 randomly selected trade union members belonging to organisations across the country. The findings showed that, while there were differences in trade union members’ needs and expectations, most found that their unions were committed to performing their roles in earnest. Relational capital that comprises communication, commitment, participation and trust mediated the relationship between the collective voice of members and the perceived effectiveness of the unions. This chapter examines how trade unions and their members can mutually benefit through better understanding of the objectives of the former and the expectations of the latter.