“Union Yes” at a Public Ivy

Abstract

This study investigates predictors of prounion faculty voting intentions in a collective bargaining representational election. The research draws on a dataset developed during the course of the representational election campaign at the University of Vermont. The article explores the current context of higher education organizing in relation to the American labor movement. The literature review shows prounion attitudes, union instrumentality, demographic factors, job dissatisfaction, and active participation in the union campaign to be predictors of voting intentions. A general model of voting intentions emerges. Multiple logistic regression analysis is used to test the general model against assessments of voting intentions observed at four phases of the campaign. Specific models of voting intentions for each phase of the campaign materialize. An exploration of implications for both researchers and organizers follows.