What's not to loathe? A qualitative study of the factors influencing Belgian trade unions’ positioning toward a universal basic income

Abstract

This article focuses on the positioning of Belgian trade unions (TUs) toward a universal basic income (UBI). While there is some previous empirical work suggesting that TUs are unlikely to support this potential welfare reform because of ideological and strategic motives, we still lack a broader understanding of the factors influencing unions’ hostility toward a UBI. This study aims to fill this gap by adopting a multifactor approach that considers the impact of (1) the broader institutional, political, and socioeconomic context; (2) unions’ ideologies and values, and (3) the relation to their members’ attitudes. Based on in-depth interviews with Belgian union leaders, we untangle how their positioning is shaped by multiple considerations. We find that Belgian TUs are concerned about the budgetary implications of a UBI, as well as the uncertainty of politically tinted UBI proposals. They want to maintain the current social insurance system and their prominent institutional role within that system. We note that the rationale behind their opposition is shaped by their union-specific philosophical tendencies and their attachment to work. Lastly, their constituencies’ attitudes do not affect their positioning. By contrast, we find a top-down approach, as they emphasize their role in “educating” their members about a UBI.