The Influence of Employee Involvement Program Membership During Downsizing: Attitudes Toward the Employer and the Union

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of employee involvement (EI) program membership on attitudes towards an organization, its management, and the union during organizational downsizing. Respondents were 147 union members who had been notified of their discharge from a large manufacturer. EI membership had significant effects on worker commitment to the organization, attitudes towards management, perceived fairness and attributions of blame, but not on attitudes toward the union. However, EI members displace somewhat greater blame for the layoff on the union.