The Pros and Cons of Trade Union Membership

However, this is to neglect the fact that effective trade unions are also necessary to negotiate collective agreements. In view of the workforce’s growing reluctance to organise collectively, we surveyed 2,564 employees in the metal and electrical industry on their trade union involvement and their attitudes towards collective bargaining. An analysis of the survey results shows that the collective bargaining system is valued by both union members and non-members. Workers in the industry are more concerned about the decline in collective bargaining coverage than about the falling level of unionisation. The trade union members surveyed are mostly satisfied with their organisation and are convinced that better working conditions can be achieved collectively. They also want trade union membership to protect them as individuals, for example with strike pay or legal advice. The reasons for a lack of trade union involvement are complex: Insufficient information and the lack in direct membership benefits play a role, as do a general trend towards individualisation and trade unions’ policy focuses. These results provide starting points for dealing with unions’ membership decline.