Unions and the Adoption of High Performance Work Systems: Does Employment Security Play a Role?

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Issue Date
2009-10-01Author
Liu, Wenchuan
Guthrie, James P.
Flood, Patrick C.
Maccurtain, Sarah
Publisher
Industrial and Labor Relations Review
Type
Article
Article Version
Scholarly/refereed, publisher version
Published Version
http://ilr.sagepub.com/content/63/1/109.abstractMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Previous research on the association between unionization and the adoption of high performance work systems (HPWSs) has yielded inconsistent results. Using data from a 2004 multi-industry survey of firms operating in the Republic of Ireland, the authors examine the relationship between employee union membership rates and relative use of HPWSs. They also test arguments that employment security may affect the receptiveness of unions to such HR practices. The results indicate that as union representation increased, there was a significant decrease in the use of high performance work systems. Evidence also suggests that providing employment security significantly ameliorated this negative impact.
Description
This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from http://ilr.sagepub.com.
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Citation
Liu, Wenchuan; Guthrie, James P.; Flood, Patrick C.; Maccurtain, Sarah. (2009). "Unions and the Adoption of High Performance Work Systems: Does Employment Security Play a Role?." Industrial and Labor Relations Review, 63(1):109-127. http://ilr.sagepub.com/content/63/1/109.abstract.
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