PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Heather Sarsons

Associate Professor, Vancouver School of Economics

CO-INVESTIGATORS

Niharika Singh

University of Notre Dame

Ellora Derenoncourt

Princeton University

Suresh Naidu

Columbia University

ABOUT

This project will test whether labor market tightness, social learning, or the combination are drivers of unionization. Since 2020, there has been a surge in union organizing activity, particularly among low-wage retail and service sector workers, that has corresponded with two other shifts in the economy. First, labor market tightness increased dramatically, making it easier for workers to find new jobs. Second, organizing attempts received a great deal of media attention, particularly on social media. Each of these factors could independently facilitate organizing efforts, by lowering the costs of organizing and by improving beliefs about the likelihood that organizing will succeed. This paper looks at labor market tightness and social learning as separate determinants of union support, as well as their interaction. It specifically aims to examine whether social learning is necessary for labor market tightness to have prolonged effects on union support.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Recent research in this area suggests that labor market tightness does not affect union support. This project will build on this research, targeting particularly relevant workers (workers in low-wage retail jobs), collecting data on more precise measures of support, and combining information about labor market tightness with information about recent union successes. A survey will be used to test whether participants update their beliefs about unions following information on labor market conditions and organizing success, as well as measures union support following treatment. The study will also gather information on factors that may influence union support (such as employer quality as measured by wage, employer partisanship, social connectedness in the workplace, and worker demographics).

HOW IT RELATES TO THE STONE CENTRE’S MISSION

This study seeks to understand support for an institution that has a direct impact on inequality: unions. Union density is strongly correlated with income inequality and unions can help raise the wages of the lowest income workers. However, many workers state hesitancy when it comes to supporting a union. This can be due to fears about employer backlash, or a lack of information about what unions do. This study will help the understand what influences union support and when one can expect union drives to be successful.