Unions and the adoption of high performance work systems: does employment security play a role?
Liu, Wenchuan ; Guthrie, James P. ; Flood, Patrick C. ; MacCurtain, Sarah
Industrial & Labor Relations Review
2009
63
1
Oct.
109-127
employment security ; survey ; trade unionization ; high performance work system
Work organization
English
Bibliogr.
"Previous research on the association between unionization and the adoption of high performance work systems (HPWSs) has yielded inconsistent results. Using data from a 2004 multi-industry survey of firms operating in the Republic of Ireland, the authors examine the relationship between employee union membership rates and relative use of HPWSs. They also test arguments that employment security may affect the receptiveness of unions to such HR practices. The results indicate that as union representation increased, there was a significant decrease in the use of high performance work systems. Evidence also suggests that providing employment security significantly ameliorated this negative impact."
Paper
The ETUI is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the ETUI.