Workers unite: a study on employee participation in unionism affecting organizational productivity

Abstract

The study focuses on the relationship between employee participation in unionism and organizational productivity in a government institution. It aims to see how participation in unionism satisfies organizational needs of employees and how it affects the productivity of the organization. To realize the objective, all active 186 All UP Workers Union-Manila members were administered a one-shot correlational survey. This instrument was adapted from two studies on the effect of trade unions on organizational productivity in the cement manufacturing industry and the impact of labor union on employees’ performance. A quantitative analysis using Spearman’s Rho was used to understand the correlation between overall participation and overall productivity. Results revealed that union members are satisfied with the performance of the union as it positively affected the state of workers and the institution as well. The positive correlation of the two variables proves that needs of employees are satisfied when the union responsibly fulfills its service, regulatory, representation, public administration, and government functions improving three indicators of organizational productivity - quality of labor, state of working environment, and professionalism. Thus, the study concludes employee participation in unionism helps boost organizational productivity.