Unionization and Work Attitudes: How Union Commitment Influences Public Sector Job Satisfaction

• Published in: Public administration review Vol. 73; no. 1; pp. 74 - 84
• Main Author: Davis, Randall S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.01.2013; Wiley Subscription Services; American Society for Public Administration
• Subjects: Attitudes; Collective bargaining; Employees; Government services; Human resources; Job Satisfaction; Labor unionization; Motivation; Perceptions; Public administration; Public Sector; Public Services; Studies; Union membership; Union organizing; Unionization; Unions; Work; Work environments; Work place; United States > US
• ISSN: 0033-3352; 1540-6210
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-6210.2012.02609.x

This article explores whether union commitment dampens public sector job satisfaction. By examining the connection between union commitment and two workplace attributes that are presumed to be more prevalent in public sector workplaces—perceptions of higher red tape and greater public service motivation—this article develops three hypotheses exploring the direct and indirect relationships between union commitment and public sector job satisfaction. The findings from a series of structural equation models indicate that union commitment directly increases members' job satisfaction, but it more prominently increases members' job satisfaction indirectly by reducing perceived red tape and enhancing public service motivation.