Internal union dynamics during a strike: A quasi-experimental study.

Hypothesized that union members on strike will (a) give a higher evaluation of the union and of the leadership, (b) evaluate the benefit package more highly after the strike, (c) become more militant against the employer during the strike, (d) report more willingness to participate in union activities, and (e) show more intraunion cohesion during the strike. Random samples of members of 9 local unions (3 each from Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler) were surveyed on 4 occasions: before the 1976 bargaining, during the strike at Ford, after settlement of the national contract, and 7 mo after the strike ended. Usable responses from a questionnaire totaled 1,182 (405 strikers, 777 nonstrikers). With the exception of greater intraunion cohesion during the strike, all hypotheses were confirmed. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)