Collective Bargaining Context and Worker Attitudes: Comparing Team and Traditional Work Systems

摘要

Although research on teams often focuses on firm performance, how these initiatives affect workers and their work-related attitudes has received limited attention. This field study examines seniority, off-line problem-solving, and union participation as institutional arrangements within a collective bargaining context that moderate the relationship between work systems and work-related attitudes. Results indicate a negative relationship between team membership and work-related attitudes for those with greater seniority. A positive relationship between team membership and work-related attitudes exists for those who are more active in their union. Higher organizational commitment occurs in team settings when workers had experience in off-line problem-solving programs.