Attitudes towards unions through a generational cohort lens

ABSTRACT

Studying a large American union, we report on findings from two studies investigating perceptions of and attitudes towards unions through a generational cohort lens. Study one explores the link between generational cohort and members’ perceptions of unions, employing qualitative analysis of 100 interviews: 30 Millennials, 35 Gen X, and 35 Baby Boomers. Analysis determined that union members focus on either ideological or instrumental explanations to support perceptions that their generation was either pro-union or anti-union. Themes identified in study one were further explored in a quantitative study which involved statistical analysis of survey data (n = 4717) to identify possible differences in pro and anti-union attitudes across three generational cohorts: baby boomer (n = 2857), Gen X (n = 1256), and millennials (n = 304). Data from both studies support the idea that pro-union perceptions and attitudes are more prevalent among those in the baby boomer cohort than Gen Xers, and millennials.

KEYWORDS:

• Union Renewal
• Generational Differences
• Union Attitudes

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Chris Gordon Smith

Chris Smith is a PhD candidate studying Organizational Change at Carleton University, in Ottawa, Canada.

Linda Duxbury

Dr. Linda Duxbury teaches Organizational Change at Carleton University, in Ottawa, Canada.