"This article analyses workers' attitudes to trade unions by comparing the survey responses of Unison members with public sector workers who have left or never joined a union. It examines whether differences between these groups can help to explain union-joining behaviour and membership patterns. The findings demonstrate that there are few differences in attitudes between Unison members, ex-unionists and never-members on the issue of 'union effectiveness'. However, ex-unionists were more reluctant to re-join unions than never-members. The evidence concludes that if public service unions are to recruit new members, they need to adopt differentiated strategies and representatives have to target ex-unionists and never-members in the workplace."

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