Trade union membership density: the case of the AUT

Abstract

This paper analyses trade union membership with respect to the Association of University Teachers representing academic and related staff in the ‘old’ UK higher education sector. It therefore negates the difficulties encountered with prior cross-sectional research concerning unionized and non-unionized workplaces and their homogeneity. Two models are estimated at the local association, or university, level where the hypothesized variables encompass age and career related determinants, staff gender divisions and a series of university-specific characteristics together with locational and political indicators. We find significant influences upon union density include career grade, mean staff age, male staff numbers together with the institution's classification.