Measuring Collective Labor Force: a New Index beyond Union Density

• In Event: Unions in a Changing World

Abstract

In quantifying the share of union members in all gainfully employed persons, the most influential and commonly used comparative measure of trade union strength is union density. However, exactly the comparability of this indicator is highly problematic for mainly two reasons.

First, the strength of trade unions is a more multi-faceted phenomenon than it can be captured by the mere share of union members. Union density may be high in some countries where labor movements are not able to exercise authority in politics and at the workplace (e.g. China). Similarly, unionization may be nominally low but trade unions are capable of improving the material, social and legal position of their members (e.g. France). Union membership and the functions of a union itself differ between states in ways that go beyond density rates. Research, therefore, lacks a valid indicator to map the concept of trade union strength.

Second, the disproportionate focus on affluent democracies adversely affects the idea of broad comparability. Labor movements in non-industrialized countries seem to be neglected by research. Not least because there is a lack of comparable quantitative data on industrial relations in developing countries. Considering the international division of labor and the increasing involvement of such countries in the world market, the status of dependent workers should not be overlooked and, in particular, not the perception of the potential that the association of workers can unfold.

Research so far either overlooks or ignores these constraints. If one wants to grasp the strength of trade unions as a multi-facetted phenomenon in all regions of the world, then it has to comprise more than the share of union members in all employees in the OECD. This paper fills the research gap by systematically considering manifestations of union strength on different levels in a variety of countries and, on this basis, building an index to quantify these findings and to make them comparable. Therefore, since there is no congruent theory for the formation, development and strength of trade unions, especially for non-industrialized countries, components of, what I call, ‘collective labor force’ will be identified in the literature in the first place. These components will then be compiled in one index. Composite indicators are a convincing solution for this endeavor, as they allow the various facets of collective labor force to be grouped together in one index.

Accordingly, my contribution provides a deeper understanding of the determinants of union strength beyond the sheer unionization level and allows the use of a valid indicator for comparative analysis that also addresses non-industrialized countries. Comparative analysis of the power of workers can not only help to understand and explain the nature, adjustments and variations of trade unions. They can also shed light on the social, political and economic developments of societies and markets characterized by labor movements.

Author

• Anne Metten, University of Kiel