TY - JOUR T1 - Is There a Winning Formula for Union Organizing? JF - Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal Y1 - 2014 A1 - Lepie, Jonathan KW - labor law KW - organizing KW - union organizing KW - union-busting KW - unions AB -

Between 1995 and 2004, Kate Bronfenbrenner wrote several studies arguing that union organizing would be more successful if certain tactics were used. Bronfenbrenner’s methodology seemed unassailable and her opinions were influential among union leaders, but organizing outcomes did not improve. To understand why, this study asked highly successful union organizers for their views. Their responses point to an entirely different conceptualization of the organizing process. Rather than follow a certain recipe, respondents saw their first priority as building relationships of trust with workers. Then, organizers and workers together could develop tactics tailored to the particular situation. If organizing success most requires relation-building skills and creativity, then it is more important for unions to hire the right organizers than to employ a given tactical formula.

VL - 26 L2 - eng CP - 2 ER -