Meaningful work has been linked to consequential individual and organizational outcomes, and has, therefore, become an important topic of study. Yet there is a paucity of research examining the effect of unions on members’ work meaningfulness. In a field sample, using a time-lagged survey methodology, we examined the effect of perceived union support on members’ perceptions of work meaningfulness, and tested perceived union fulfillment of workers’ psychological needs as a mediator. Additionally, we examined the conditional effect of union identification on these relationships. We find that supportive unions foster work meaningfulness via psychological need fulfillment, but these relationships are not conditioned on union identification.
ArnoldKara A.TurnerNickBarlingJulianKellowayE. KevinMcKeeMargaret C.2007. “Transformational Leadership and Psychological Well-Being: The Mediating Role of Meaningful Work.” Journal of Occupational Health Psychology12 (3): 193-203.
2.
ArulampalamWijiBoothAlison L.1998. “Training and Labour Market Flexibility: Is there a Trade-Off?” British Journal of Industrial Relations36 (4): 521-36.
3.
AryeeSamuelChayYue Wah. 2001. “Workplace Justice, Citizenship Behavior, and Turnover Intentions in a Union Context: Examining the Mediating Role of Perceived Union Support and Union Instrumentality.” Journal of Applied Psychology86 (1): 154-60.
4.
AselageJustinEisenbergerRobert. 2003. “Perceived Organizational Support and Psychological Contracts: A Theoretical Integration.” Journal of Organizational Behavior24 (5): 491-509.
5.
AshforthBlake E.HarrisonSpencer H.CorleyKevin G.2008. “Identification in Organizations: An Examination of Four Fundamental Questions.” Journal of Management34 (3): 325-74.
6.
AshforthBake E.MaelFred. 1989. “Social Identity Theory and the Organization.” Academy of Management Review14 (1): 20-39.
7.
AssorAviKaplanHayaFeinbergOfraTalKaren. 2009. “Combining Vision with Voice: A Learning and Implementation Structure Promoting Teachers’ Internalization of Practices Based on Self-Determination Theory.” School Field7 (2): 234-43.
8.
BaumeisterRoy F.VohsKathleen D.2002. “The Pursuit of Meaningfulness in Life.” In Handbook of Positive Psychology, edited by SnyderCharles R.LopezShane J., 608-18. New York: Oxford University Press.
BronfenbrennerKateWarrenDorian. 2011. “The Empirical Case for Streamlining the NLRB Certification Process: The Role of Date of Unfair Labor Practice Occurrence.” ISERP Working Papers Series. https://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/workingpapers/159/.
11.
CardadorM. TeresaDaneErikPrattMichael G.2011. “Linking Calling Orientations to Organizational Attachment Via Organizational Instrumentality.” Journal of Vocational Behavior79 (2): 367-78.
12.
CardadorM. TeresaGrantBrandon C.LamareJ. RyanNorthcraftGregory B.2017. “To Be or Not to Be Unionized? A Social Dilemma Perspective on Worker Decisions to Support Union Organizing.” Human Resource Management Review27 (3): 554-68.
13.
ChackoThomas I.1985. “Member Participation in Union Activities: Perceptions of Union Priorities, Performance, and Satisfaction.” Journal of Labor Research6 (4): 363-73.
14.
ChalofskyNeal. 2003. “An Emerging Construct for Meaningful Work.” Human Resource Development International6 (1): 69-83.
15.
ChildJohnLoveridgeRayWarnerMalcolm. 1973. “Towards an Organizational Study of Trade Unions.” Sociology7 (1): 71-91.
16.
CookeWilliam N.1994. “Employee Participation Programs, Group-Based Incentives, and Company Performance: A Union-Nonunion Comparison.” Industrial and Labor Relations Review47 (4): 594-609.
17.
DeciEdward L.RyanRichard M.2000. “The ‘What’ and ‘Why’ of Goal Pursuits: Human Needs and the Self-Determination of Behavior.” Psychological Inquiry11 (4): 227-68.
18.
DriscollCathyMcKeeMargaret. 2007. “Restorying a Culture of Ethical and Spiritual Values: A Role for Leader Storytelling.” Journal of Business Ethics73 (2): 205-17.
19.
DuncanGreg J.StaffordFrank P.1980. “Do Union Members Receive Compensating Wage Differentials?” American Economic Review70 (3): 355-71.
20.
DuttonJane E.HeaphyEmily D.2003. “The Power of High-Quality Connections.” In Positive Organizational Scholarship: Foundations of a New Discipline, edited by CameronKimDuttonJane, 263-78. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
21.
EatonAdrienne E.KrieskyJill. 2009. “NLRB Elections versus Card Check Campaigns: Results of a Worker Survey.” Industrial and Labor Relations Review62 (2): 157-72.
22.
EisenbergerRobertCummingsJimArmeliStephenLynchPatrick. 1997. “Perceived Organizational Support, Discretionary Treatment, and Job Satisfaction.” Journal of Applied Psychology82 (5): 812-20.
EllemersNaomiDe GilderDickHaslamS. Alexander. 2004. “Motivating Individuals and Groups at Work: A Social Identity Perspective on Leadership and Group Performance.” Academy of Management Review29 (3): 459-78.
25.
FarberHenry S. 1990. The decline of unionization in the United States: What can be learned from recent experience?Journal of Labor Economics8: S75-105.
26.
FreemanRichard B.MedoffJames L.1984. What Do Unions Do. New York: Basic Books.
27.
FriedYitzhakFerrisGerald R.1987. “The Validity of the Job Characteristics Model: A Review and Meta-Analysis.” Personnel Psychology40 (2): 287-322.
28.
FullagarClive J.BarlingJulian. 1987. “Toward a Model of Union Commitment.” Advances in Industrial and Labor Relations4:43-78.
29.
FullagarClive J.GallagherDaniel G.ClarkPaul F.CarrollAnthony E.2004. “Union Commitment and Participation: A 10-Year Longitudinal Study.” Journal of Applied Psychology89 (4): 730-37.
30.
FullerJerry BryanJrHesterKim. 2001. “A Closer Look at the Relationship between Justice Perceptions and Union Participation.” Journal of Applied Psychology86 (6): 1096-1105.
31.
GansterDanielRosenChristopher. 2013. “Work Stress and Employee Health: A Multidisciplinary Review.” Journal of Management39 (5): 1085-1122.
32.
GordonMichael E.PhilpotJohn W.BurtRobert E.ThompsonCynthia A.SpillerWilliam E.1980. “Commitment to the Union: Development of a Measure and an Examination of Its Correlates.” Journal of Applied Psychology65 (4): 479-99.
33.
GrantAdam M.2007. “Relational Job Design and the Motivation to Make a Prosocial Difference.” Academy of Management Review32 (2): 393-417.
34.
GrantAdam M.DuttonJane E.RossoBrent D.2008. “Giving Commitment: Employee Support Programs and the Prosocial Sensemaking Process.” Academy of Management Journal51 (5): 898-918.
35.
HackmanJ. RichardLawlerEdward E.1971. “Employee Reactions to Job Characteristics.” Journal of Applied Psychology55 (3): 259-86.
36.
HackmanJ. RichardOldhamGreg R.1976. “Motivation through the Design of Work: Test of a Theory.” Organizational Behavior and Human Performance16 (2): 250-79.
37.
HallDouglas T.SchneiderBenjamin. 1972. “Correlates of Organizational Identification as a Function of Career Pattern and Organizational Type.” Academy of Management1972 (1): 159-61.
38.
HammerTove HellandAvgarAriel. 2005. “The Impact of Unions on Job Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment, and Turnover.” Journal of Labor Research26 (2): 241-66.
39.
HavenerCliff. 1999. Meaning: The Secret of Being Alive. Edina, MN: Beaver’s Pond Press.
40.
HobfollStevan E.LeibermanJoseph R.1987. “Personality and Social Resources in Immediate and Continued Stress Resistance among Women.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology52 (1): 18-26.
41.
HoggMichael A.HainsSarah C.1996. “Intergroup Relations and Group Solidarity: Effects of Group Identification and Social Beliefs on Depersonalized Attraction.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology70 (2): 295-309.
42.
HoggMichael A.TerryDeborah J.WhiteKatherine M.1995. “A Tale of Two Theories: A Critical Comparison of Identity Theory with Social Identity Theory.” Social Psychology Quarterly58 (4): 255-69.
43.
HomansGeorge C.1958. “Social Behavior as Exchange.” American Journal of Sociology63 (6): 597-606.
44.
JohnsonMichael D.MorgesonFrederick P.IlgenDaniel R.MeyerChristopher J.LloydJames W.2006. “Multiple Professional Identities: Examining Differences in Identification across Work-Related Targets.” Journal of Applied Psychology91 (2): 498-506.
45.
KahnWilliam A.2007. “Meaningful Connections: Positive Relationships and Attachments at Work.” In Exploring Positive Relationships at Work: Building a Theoretical and Research Foundation, edited by DuttonJane E.RaginsBelle Rose, 189-206. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum.
46.
KatzDanielKahnRobert L.1978. The Social Psychology of Organizations. Vol. 2. New York, NY: Wiley.
47.
KearneyRichard C.HaysSteven W.1994. “Labor-Management Relations and Participative Decision Making: Toward a New Paradigm.” Public Administration Review54 (1): 44-51.
48.
KennyDavid A.KashyDeborah A.BolgerNiall. 1998. “Data Analysis in Social Psychology.” In The Handbook of Social Psychology, edited by FiskeSusan T.GilbertDaniel T.LindzeyGardner, 4th ed., 233-265. Boston: McGraw-Hill.
49.
KoestnerRichardRyanRichard M.BernieriFrankHoltKathleen. 1984. “Setting Limits on Children’s Behavior: The Differential Effects of Controlling vs. Informational Styles on Intrinsic Motivation and Creativity.” Journal of Personality52 (3): 233-48.
50.
KossekEllen ErnstValcourMoniqueLirioPamela. 2014. “The Sustainable Workforce: Organizational Strategies for Promoting Work-Life Balance and Wellbeing.” In Wellbeing: A complete Reference Guide. Work and Wellbeing, edited by ChenPeter Y.CooperCary L., 295-318. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.
51.
LathamGary P.SaariLise M.1982. “The Importance of Union Acceptance for Productivity Improvement through Goal Setting.” Personnel Psychology35 (4): 781-87.
52.
LevinsonHarry. 1965. “Reciprocation: The Relationship between Man and Organization.” Administrative Science Quarterly9 (4): 370-90.
53.
LindellMichael K.WhitneyDavid J.2001. “Accounting for Common Method Variance in Cross-Sectional Research Designs.” Journal of Applied Psychology86 (1): 114-21.
54.
MartinMike W.2000. Meaningful Work: Rethinking Professional Ethics. New York: Oxford University Press.
55.
MayDouglas R.GilsonRichard L.HarterLynn M.2004. “The Psychological Conditions of Meaningfulness, Safety and Availability and the Engagement of the Human Spirit at Work.” Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology77 (1): 11-37.
56.
NewtonLucy A.ShoreLynn McFarlane. 1992. “A Model of Union Membership: Instrumentality, Commitment, and Opposition.” Academy of Management Review17 (2): 275-98.
57.
NordWalter R.BriefArthur P.AtiehJennifer M.DohertyElizabeth M.1990. “Studying Meanings of Work: The Case of Work Values.” In Meanings of Occupational Work: A Collection of Essays, edited by BriefArthur P.NordWalter R., 21-64. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.
58.
O’BrienGordon E.1992. “Changing Meanings of Work.” In Employment Relations: The Psychology of Influence and Control at Work, edited by HartleyJean F.StephensonGeoffrey Michael, 44-66. Oxford: Blackwell.
59.
OldhamGreg R.HackmanJ. Richard. 2010. “Not What It Was and Not What It Will Be: The Future of Job Design Research.” Journal of Organizational Behavior31 (2-3): 463-79.
60.
ParkCrystal L.2010. “Making Sense of the Meaning Literature: An Integrative Review of Meaning Making and Its Effects on Adjustment to Stressful Life Events.” Psychological Bulletin136 (2): 257-301.
61.
PhillipsJean M.GullyStan M.1997. “Role of Goal Orientation, Ability, Need for Achievement, and Locus of Control in the Self-Efficacy and Goal-Setting Process.” Journal of Applied Psychology82 (5): 792-802.
62.
PodolnyJoel M.KhuranaRakeshHill-PopperMarya. 2004. “Revisiting the Meaning of Leadership.” Research in Organizational Behavior26:1-36.
63.
PodsakoffPhilip M.MacKenzieScott B.LeeJeong-YeonPodsakoffNathan P.2003. “Common Method Biases in Behavioral Research: A Critical Review of the Literature and Recommended Remedies.” Journal of Applied Psychology88 (5): 879-903.
64.
PowdthaveeNattavudh. 2011. “Anticipation, Free-Rider Problems, and Adaptation to Trade Unions: Re-Examining the Curious Case of Dissatisfied Union Members.” Industrial and Labor Relations Review64 (5): 1000-19.
65.
PrattMichael G.2000. “The Good, the Bad, and the Ambivalent: Managing Identification among Amway Distributors.” Administrative Science Quarterly45 (3): 456-93.
66.
PrattMichael G.AshforthBlake E.2003. “Fostering Meaningfulness in Working and at Work.” In Positive Organizational Scholarship: Foundations of a New Discipline, edited by CameronKim S.DuttonJane E.QuinnRobert E., 309-327. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler.
67.
PreacherKristopher J.HayesAndrew F.2004. “SPSS and SAS Procedures for Estimating Indirect Effects in Simple Mediation Models.” Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, and Computers36 (4): 717-31.
PyszczynskiTomGreenbergJeffSolomonSheldonArndtJamieSchimelJeff. 2004. “Why Do People Need Self-Esteem? A Theoretical and Empirical Review.” Psychological Bulletin130 (3): 435-68.
70.
ReedCeleste SturdevantYoungWillard R.McHughPatrick P.1994. “A Comparative Look at Dual Commitment: An International Study.” Human Relations47 (10): 1269-93.
71.
ReeveJohnmarshallDeciEdward L.1996. “Elements of the Competitive Situation That Affect Intrinsic Motivation.” Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin22 (1): 24-33.
72.
RhoadesLindaEisenbergerRobert. 2002. “Perceived Organizational Support: A Review of the Literature.” Journal of Applied Psychology87 (4): 698-714.
73.
RobersonLoriann. 1990. “Functions of Work Meanings in Organizations: Work Meanings and Motivations.” In Meanings of Occupational Work: A Collection of Essays, edited by BriefArthur P.NordWalter R., 107-34. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.
74.
RosenfeldJake. 2014. What Unions No Longer Do. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
75.
RossoBrent D.DekasKathryn H.WrzesniewskiAmy. 2010. “On the Meaning of Work: A Theoretical Integration and Review.” Research in Organizational Behavior30:91-127.
76.
RyanRichard M.DeciEdward L.2000. “Self-Determination Theory and the Facilitation of Intrinsic Motivation, Social Development, and Well-Being.” American Psychologist55 (1): 68-78.
77.
RyanRichard M.GrolnickWendy S.1986. “Origins and Pawns in the Classroom: Self-Report and Projective Assessments of Individual Differences in Children’s Perceptions.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology50 (3): 550-58.
78.
ShiromArieKirmeyerSandra. 1988. “The Effects of Unions on Blue Collar Role Stresses and Somatic Strain.” Journal of Organizational Behavior9 (1): 29-42.
79.
ShoreLynn McFarlaneShoreTed E.1995. “Perceived Organizational Support and Organizational Justice.” In Organizational Politics, Justice, and Support: Managing the Social Climate of the Workplace, edited by KacmarK. MicheleCropanzanoRussell, 149-64. Westport: Quorum Books.
80.
ShoreLynn McFarlaneTetrickLois E.SinclairRobert R.NewtonLucy A.1994. “Validation of a Measure of Perceived Union Support.” Journal of Applied Psychology79 (6): 971-77.
81.
ShostakArthur B.1980. Blue Collar Stress. Reading: Addison-Wesley.
82.
SinclairRobert R.TetrickLois E.1995. “Social Exchange and Union Commitment: A Comparison of Union Instrumentality and Union Support Perceptions.” Journal of Organizational Behavior16 (Suppl. 1): 669-80.
83.
SkarlickiDaniel P.LathamGary P.1996. “Increasing Citizenship Behavior within a Labor Union: A Test of Organizational Justice Theory.” Journal of Applied Psychology81 (2): 161-69.
84.
SpreitzerGretchenPorathChristine. 2012. “Creating Sustainable Performance.” Harvard Business Review90 (1): 92-99.
85.
SpreitzerGretchenSutcliffeKathleenDuttonJaneSonensheinScottGrantAdam M.2005. “A Socially Embedded Model of Thriving at Work.” Organization Science16 (5): 537-49.
86.
StegerMichael F.DikBryan J.2010. “Work as Meaning: Individual and Organizational Benefits of Engaging in Meaningful Work.” In Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology and Work, edited by LinleyP. AlexHarringtonSusanGarceaNicola, 131-42. New York: Oxford University Press.
87.
StegerMichael F.DikBryan J.DuffyRyan D.2012. “Measuring Meaningful Work: The Work and Meaning Inventory (WAMI).” Journal of Career Assessment20 (3): 322-37.
88.
StegerMichael F.Littman-OvadiaHadassahMillerMichalMengerLaurenRothmannSebastiaan. 2013. “Engaging in Work Even When It Is Meaningless: Positive Affective Disposition and Meaningful Work Interact in Relation to Work Engagement.” Journal of Career Assessment21 (2): 348-61.
89.
TajfelHenriTurnerJohn C.1979. “An Integrative Theory of Intergroup Conflict.” The Social Psychology of Intergroup Relations33 (47): 33-47.
90.
TetrickLois E.ShoreLynn M.McClurgLucy NewtonVandenbergRobert J.2007. “A Model of Union Participation: The Impact of Perceived Union Support, Union Instrumentality, and Union Loyalty.” Journal of Applied Psychology92 (3): 820-28.
91.
ThompsonJeffery A.BundersonJ. Stuart. 2003. “Violations of Principle: Ideological Currency in the Psychological Contract.” Academy of Management Review28 (4): 571-86.
92.
TremblayMaxime A.BlanchardCéline M.TaylorSaraPelletierLuc G.VilleneuveMartin. 2009. “Work Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation Scale: Its Value for Organizational Psychology Research.” Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science41 (4): 213-26.
93.
TreviñoLinda K.WeaverGary R.ReynoldsScott J.2006. “Behavioral Ethics in Organizations: A Review.” Journal of Management32 (6): 951-90.
94.
TwiggNicholas W.FullerJerry B.HesterKim. 2008. “Transformational Leadership in Labor Organizations: The Effects on Union Citizenship Behaviors.” Journal of Labor Research29 (1): 27-41.
95.
VansteenkisteMaartenRyanRichardDeciEd. 2008. “Self-Determination Theory and the Explanatory Role of Psychological Needs in Human Well-Being.” In Capabilities and Happiness, edited by BruniLuiginoComimFlavioPugnoMaurizio, 187-223. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
96.
WaddingtonJeremyWhitstonColin. 1997. “Why Do People Join Unions in a Period of Membership Decline?” British Journal of Industrial Relations35 (4): 515-46.
97.
WarnerKris. 2013. “The Decline of Unionization in the United States: Some Lessons from Canada.” Labor Studies Journal38 (2): 110-38.
98.
WeickKarl E.1995. Sensemaking in Organizations. Vol. 3. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
99.
WrzesniewskiAmy. 2012. “Callings.” In The Oxford Handbook of Positive Organizational Psychology, edited by SpreitzerGretchen M.CameronKim S., 45-55. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
100.
WrzesniewskiAmyDuttonJane E.2001. “Crafting a Job: Revisioning Employees as Active Crafters of Their Work.” Academy of Management Review26 (2): 179-201.
101.
WrzesniewskiAmyDuttonJane E.DebebeGelaye. 2003. “Interpersonal Sensemaking and the Meaning of Work.” Research in Organizational Behavior25:93-135.
102.
WrzesniewskiAmyMcCauleyClarkRozinPaulSchwartzBarry. 1997. “Jobs, Careers, and Callings: People’s Relations to Their Work.” Journal of Research in Personality31 (1): 21-33.
103.
YoungbloodStuart A.DeNisiAngelo S.MollestonJulie L.MobleyWilliam H.1984. “The Impact of Work Environment, Instrumentality Beliefs, Perceived Labor Union Image, and Subjective Norms on Union Voting Intentions.” Academy of Management Journal27 (3): 576-90.
104.
ZalesnyMary D.1985. “Comparison of Economic and Noneconomic Factors in Predicting Faculty Vote Preference in a Union Representation Election.” Journal of Applied Psychology70 (2): 243-56.
105.
ZuckermanMironPoracJosephLathinDrewDeciEdward L.1978. “On the Importance of Self-Determination for Intrinsically-Motivated Behavior.” Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin4 (3): 443-46.
