The union wage effect in Canadian manufacturing industries

1981 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 355-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Christensen ◽  
Dennis Maki
ILR Review ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 230-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Christensen ◽  
Dennis Maki

This study assesses the wage effect of compulsory membership clauses in union contracts. Previous industry-level studies of union wage effects have used contract coverage as the measure of unionization, that is, the proportion of workers in an industry, both members and nonmembers of unions, who are covered by collective agreements. In the wage equation estimated here, union coverage is disaggregated into its membership and covered-nonmember components. Results for a sample of 54 three-digit manufacturing industries indicate that compulsory membership clauses do enable unions to negotiate significantly greater wage increases. Results from a sample of 21 two-digit industries, however, offer less clear-cut evidence of the wage gains to be had from compulsory union membership.


ILR Review ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 507-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher L. Erickson

This study of wage bargaining in the aerospace industry focuses particularly on lump sum bonuses, one-time cash disbursements that generally accompany lower increases in the base wage than were formerly standard. Although such bonuses, which appeared in aerospace companies before they appeared in other large manufacturing industries, were viewed as a union concession, they persisted into the 1989 bargaining round despite a sharp upturn in the fortunes of the most prominent aerospace company. The author regards that fact, as well as the weakening of both inter- and intra-industry pattern bargaining, as support for the view that a significant shift in union wage determination occurred in the 1980s. He argues, however, based on interviews with managers, union officials, and workers, that consensus has not yet been achieved on the meaning of this shift.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document