Why Do Workers Join Trade Unions?
Abstract
This paper uses data from manufacturing firms in Kenya to analyse the determinants of trade unionism. Matched worker-firm data from a recent Kenya manufacturing enterprise survey is used to estimate a reduced-form probit model of union membership. The results show that the likelihood of being a union member decreases with schooling; but is higher for full-time, married, and city employees. We conclude that Kenyan workers become union members to protect job tenure and to improve working conditions.
Keywords: trade union membership; union density; manufacturing; Kenya.
JEL Classification: J32, J51, J52