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Louisiana Afl-Cio Union Members' Opinions Regarding Participation, Satisfaction and Leadership

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Louisiana Afl-Cio Union Members' Opinions Regarding Participation, Satisfaction and Leadership Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 1978 Louisiana Afl-Cio Union Members' Opinions Regarding Participation, Satisfaction and Leadership. Margaret Mary Stevens Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Recommended Citation Stevens, Margaret Mary, "Louisiana Afl-Cio Union Members' Opinions Regarding Participation, Satisfaction and Leadership." (1978). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 3217. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/3217 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This material was produced from a microfilm copy of the original document. While the most advanced technological means to photograph and reproduce this document have been used, the quality is heavily dependent upon the quality of the original submitted. The following explanation of techniques is provided to help you understand markings or patterns which may appear on this reproduction. 1. The sign or "target" for pages apparently lacking from the document photographed is "Missing Page(s)". If it was possible to obtain the missing page(s) or section, they are spliced into the film along with adjacent pages. This may have necessitated cutting thru an image and duplicating adjacent pages to insure you complete continuity. 2. When an image on the film is obliterated with a large round black mark, it is an indication that the photographer suspected that the copy may have moved during exposure and thus cause a blurred image. You will find a good image of the page in the adjacent frame. 3. When a map, drawing or chart, etc., was part of the material being photographed the photographer followed a definite method in "sectioning" the material. It is customary to begin photoing at the upper left hand corner of a large sheet and to continue photoing from left to right in equal sections with a small overlap. If necessary, sectioning is continued again — beginning below the first row and continuing on until complete. 4. The majority of users indicate that the textual content is of greatest value, however, a somewhat higher quality reproduction could be made from "photographs" if essential to the understanding of the dissertation. Silver prints of "photographs" may be ordered at additional charge by writing the Order Department, giving the catalog number, title, author and specific pages you wish reproduced. 5. PLEASE NOTE: Some pages may have indistinct print. Filmed as received. Xerox University Microfilms 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 7tiS»4l •TfVENi# MAROARtT MART LOOIflANAAFLBCXOyNXON MEMBER*' OPINION* Rf0A*DXNO PARTICIPATION# b a t x 9f a c t i o n a n d LEADERSHIP. THE WOOXSXANA OTATC UNZVCP9XTY AND AORICULTURa L AND MECHANICAL COL*, PH.D.# ITT* University M icro film s International 3 00 n . z e e b r o a d, a n n a r b o r, w a s k* LOUISIANA AFL-CIO UNION MEMBERS' OPINIONS REGARDING PARTICIPATION, SATISFACTION AND LEADERSHIP A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Department of Psychology by Margaret Mary Stevens B.A., Louisiana State University, 1972 M.A., Louisiana State University, 1974 May, 1978 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Initially, the author wishes to express her appreciation to Mr. Victor Bussie, President of the Louisiana AFL-CIO, and Mr. L. G. Morgan, Staff Representative of the National AFL-CIO, for their support and assistance with this research project. Without the cooperation of the Louisiana AFL-CIO union members, this project would have been impossible. This undertaking has provided the author with the unique opportunity of enlisting the guidance and counsel of the following individuals who have also had the most influence on her doctoral training and professional development: The author wishes to express her gratitude to Dr. Irving Lane for the continued assistance and encouragement he provided while serving as her major professor. Under his guidance, this project became a most valuable learning experience. Special thanks are extended to Dr. Don Glad for serving as her minor professor and for providing laboratory training and personal growth opportunities for the author. The suggestions offered by Dr. Laurence Siegel, Dr. Perry Prestholdt, and Dr. Hubert Campbell who also served as conmittee members are greatly appreciated. The author wishes to thank Dr. David Blouin for his consultation and continuing assistance concerning the statistical analysis of the data. A'note of thanks is due to Dr. Barton Farthing who also offered consultation on the analysis of the data. Special appreciation is extended to Dr. Greg McClure for his technical assistance, as well as for the continued support and encouragement he offered throughout this project. Special thanks are extended to Ms. Fatt Aptaker and Ms. Cindy Gracianette for their assistance in mailing the questionnaires. A note of appreciation is offered to Ms. Sandra Hernandez Donaldson for the care and consideration she took in preparing the final manuscript. Lastly, immeasureable gratitude is extended to the author's family for without their love, support, and encouragement this project and the author's graduate training would not have become a reality. ili TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.................................................. ii LIST OF TABLES .................................................... vii ABSTRACT ......................................................... viii Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................ 1 The History of Labor Unions ......................... 4 Internal Processes of Unions ......................... 12 Goals and Purposes of U n i o n s ..................... 12 A Profile of the Union M e m b e r ..................... 14 The Union L e a d e r ................................. 17 The Administration of the Labor M o v e m e n t ........ 19 Union Participation ......................... 24 Job Satisfaction ............ ............ 28 Union Satisfaction................................... 32 Leadership............................................ 33 Basic Differences in Union and Management Organizations ................................. 33 Hypotheses ....... ............ ........ 38 Participation ..................................... 39 Job S a t i s f a c t i o n ................................. 40 Union Satisfaction ....................... 40 L e a d e r s h i p ....................................... 40 iV Chapter Page 2. METHODOLOGY.............................................. 42 Subjects.............................................. 42 P r o c e d u r e ............................................ 43 Instruments ......................................... 43 Participation ..................................... 44 Job S a t i s f a c t i o n................................. 46 Union Satisfaction ............................... 47 L e a d e r s h i p ....................................... 48 Data A n a l y s i s ..................................... 48 3. RESULTS.................................................. 51 Description of the S a m p l e ........................... 51 Test of Hypotheses................................... 53 Participation..................................... 53 Job Satisf a c t i o n................................. 61 Union Satisfaction ............................... 64 L e a d e r s h i p ....................................... 67 A Closer Look at Participation....................... 70 4. DISCUSSION .............................................. 72 Participation ....................................... 74 Leadership............................................ 79 Union Satisfaction................................... 82 Job Satisfaction.................. 84 Right- to - W o r k ....................................... 88 Conclusion............................................ 90 REFERENCES ...................................................... 94 v Chapter Page APPENDICES .........................................................100 Appendix I -- Cover Letter Accompanying First Mailing of Union Member Opinion Questionnaire ....................... 100 Appendix II — Cover Letter from President, AFL-CIO Accompanying First and Second Mailing of Union Member Opinion Questionnaire ................... ........ 101 Appendix III -- Union Member Opinion Questionnaire .......... 102 Appendix IV — Cover Letter Accompanying Second Mailing of Union Member Opinion Questionnaire ........................ 107 VITA ............................................................... 108 vi LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Analysis o£ Variance Table for Dependent Variable Participation Score and the Independent Variables Sex, Age, Marital Status, Race, Religion, and Education ..... ................................. 54 2. Participation Means for Sex Adjusted for Age, Status, Race, Religion and E d u c a t i o n ....................... 55 3. Age Participation Means Adjusted for Sex, Status, Race, Religion, and Education ................. ...... 55 4. Marital Status Participation Means Adjusted for Sex, Age,
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