Abstract:
This paper reports the first large-scale study of predictors of union belonging in New Zealand. We find that the effects of job dissatisfaction and beliefs about the importance of unions on union belonging are mediated by perceived union performance. This supports the central argument in the literature on the mediating role of union instrumentality in union belonging. We also find direct positive effects of left-leaning political beliefs, longer tenure, female gender and higher union penetration, but these are weak influences while perceptions of union performance directly and strongly predict union belonging. Overall, our research suggests that NZ union members are very much ‘instrumental collectivists’. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of the findings for the debate about the future of trade unionism.