Workers have responded differently in the US and UK to declining union density. US workers have unfilled demand for unions whereas many UK workers free-ride at unionized workplaces. To explain this difference, we create a scalar measure of worker needs for representation and relate desire for unionism to this measure and to the choices that the US and UK labor relations systems offer workers. Our measure of needs has similar properties across countries and is the single most important determinant of worker desire for unions and collective representation. Conditional on needs, workers are more likely to want unions when management is favourable to them but also where management strongly opposes unionism.

Alex Bryson

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