Voting for the Union: An Experimental Vignette Study

Abstract

The authors use an experimental vignette method to examine influences on union voting intentions in a hypothetical union representation election. Use of an experimental approach allows for clearer inferences on causality than most union voting studies, which have been based mainly on cross-sectional surveys. The authors find that beliefs about union instrumentality in terms of improving terms and conditions of employment for represented workers, beliefs that unions have positive influences for society, and beliefs that workers will have substantial influence on union policies and practices are most influential on voting intentions. The views of others and job satisfaction are found less influential.