Factors influencing union effectiveness in the public service in Zambia: Associations and mediating effect

The article investigates how environmental and organisational factors may affect union effectiveness in a developing country context. Based on a perceptions survey of union members in the Zambian public service sector, the article uses principal components analysis, correlation, multiple linear regr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Economic and industrial democracy 2021-08, Vol.42 (3), p.504-530
Main Authors: Koyi, Grayson, Tembo, Juvenalis M, Sichinsambwe, Chanda M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accountability
Effectiveness
Environmental aspects
Innovations
Leadership
Mass media
Mass media effects
Principal components analysis
Service industries
Union membership
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Summary:The article investigates how environmental and organisational factors may affect union effectiveness in a developing country context. Based on a perceptions survey of union members in the Zambian public service sector, the article uses principal components analysis, correlation, multiple linear regression and mediation analyses to examine relationships between environmental and organisational factors and union effectiveness. Results suggest that labour and product markets and mass media are significant environmental factors influencing union effectiveness. At the organisational level, results suggest that organisational strategies, leadership accountability, innovations and administrative and democratic structuring are significant factors that positively influence union effectiveness. Results also suggest that organisational factors mediate the link between environmental factors and union effectiveness. In this sense, the article provides a striking demonstration of the importance of a strong internal state for the union organisation in mediating the influence of the external environment on the union’s goal of advancing and defending workers’ interests.
ISSN:0143-831X
1461-7099
DOI:10.1177/0143831X18780334