Union wage premium
Encyclopedia
A union wage premium refers to the degree in which union
wages exceed non-union member wages. Union wage premiums are one of the most researched and analyzed issues in economics especially in labor economics
. Unions and their struggle for wages and better benefits usually target larger firms that have a concentrated industry. Unions have an effect on wages, the probability of gaining benefits, productivity of the worker, and workplace protections.
This union premium wage gap can be interpreted as the adaptations to globalization
, technological, and demographic changes. Another argument for this gap between union and non-union wages is the competition between the wages including a foreign competitor, different workplace improvements to enhance productivity, safety in the workplace, and other interests of the workers. Thus higher wages paid in the union sector makes it seem like there is a rationing of union jobs and that the average worker would rather work a union job than a non-union job.
Others attribute changes in this premium to changes in business cycle
s (for example should the unemployment rate go up, it would raise the premium or if the inflation
rate were to increase then it should lower the premium). Deregulation also affects premiums by adding competitors that will probably lower the unions bargaining power but it could be argued that it also affects the wages of non-union workers as well. As well cause them to compete with local and foreign wages to keep workers in the jobs and not move to a better paying job. Similarly, import penetration would cause the union to insulate the wages for a period of time.
Another study done by on union wage premiums attributes this narrowing of this gap to labor markets strengthening with time. Thus this strengthening depends on the actual and expected inflation of the union workers who are covered by their cost of living adjustments.
, it has raised for the public sector
in the U.S. Union wage premiums also usually raise the wages of low-skilled workers more than those of high-skilled workers. Thus these low skilled workers usually have less education, lower wages, and in lower paid jobs. This mainly is the result of unions historically representing the working and lower classes. Most economist and labor studies on union wage premiums estimate a difference of about 15%.
Another study reports a much smaller wage difference of 7.7% and 6.0% in workplaces with more than 100 workers. Some studies also argue that as a consequence of unions raising their wages especially if about the market rate wage, it can cause serious firm profitability and eventually jobs could be lost. In some instances union presence in the firm can be associated with 3 to 9 percentage lower net income on assets for the firm but the opposite effect occurs when union density or size is lower.
Lower-wage, middle-wage, blue-collar
, and high school educated workers are also more likely than high-wage, white-collar
, and college-educated workers to be represented by unions. This is mainly because they raise the wages of the bottom and middle of the wage distribution than that of the top. The explanation that is given for this sector is that it is receiving more than the white collar sector with wage premiums. As well as with larger wages these workers have more purchasing power and their household incomes also increase, thus this wage premium not only effects their budget line but also their household budget line. Another study also backs up the emphasis of importance of wage union premiums among pay structures, especially with the wages of the lowest paid having an effect on pay differentials among gender, ethnicities, health, and different types of occupations. Thus although unions have become smaller in size and participation among the different worker sectors throughout time, those that have survived are more apt and able to negotiate and demand a higher wage premium from their firms and businesses. Union wages also hold up better with increased international competition than those of non-union workers wages although this might mean less union employment in their sector.
There were also changes through time of the union wage premium among different groups in the labor market. The changes could be seen through gender, skill, and the private and public sector of the labor market. Through studies and figures it was shown that the wage premium was largest in the least skilled for both males and females. But for males there is a decline in wage premiums as their skill increases so the wage premium is negative for men with very high skilled jobs. The pattern for the public and private sector was extremely similar especially during the years of 1973 through 1993.
lnwit=β1Xu + Σj αjt Iijt + Σf πjt Iijt Uit +εit,
Thus where w denotes equals weekly wage of the i, the individual in t years, X
is the control variable (education, experience, gender, marriage, part-time work, census divisions, and twelve occupations). Ij is the indicator variable for industry j, U is the indicator variable for union membership and ε is the regression error. The πjt is the union wage premium in industry j in year t.
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
wages exceed non-union member wages. Union wage premiums are one of the most researched and analyzed issues in economics especially in labor economics
Labour economics
Labor economics seeks to understand the functioning and dynamics of the market for labor. Labor markets function through the interaction of workers and employers...
. Unions and their struggle for wages and better benefits usually target larger firms that have a concentrated industry. Unions have an effect on wages, the probability of gaining benefits, productivity of the worker, and workplace protections.
Dynamics
One of the characteristics of a union is to try to bargain and negotiate wages and hours. Unions also try to reduce or eliminate pay discrimination and low wages. The wage gap of non-union workers and unionized workers since the 1970s has varied between 21% and 32% in the U.S.United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
This union premium wage gap can be interpreted as the adaptations to globalization
Globalization
Globalization refers to the increasingly global relationships of culture, people and economic activity. Most often, it refers to economics: the global distribution of the production of goods and services, through reduction of barriers to international trade such as tariffs, export fees, and import...
, technological, and demographic changes. Another argument for this gap between union and non-union wages is the competition between the wages including a foreign competitor, different workplace improvements to enhance productivity, safety in the workplace, and other interests of the workers. Thus higher wages paid in the union sector makes it seem like there is a rationing of union jobs and that the average worker would rather work a union job than a non-union job.
Others attribute changes in this premium to changes in business cycle
Business cycle
The term business cycle refers to economy-wide fluctuations in production or economic activity over several months or years...
s (for example should the unemployment rate go up, it would raise the premium or if the inflation
Inflation
In economics, inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. Consequently, inflation also reflects an erosion in the purchasing power of money – a...
rate were to increase then it should lower the premium). Deregulation also affects premiums by adding competitors that will probably lower the unions bargaining power but it could be argued that it also affects the wages of non-union workers as well. As well cause them to compete with local and foreign wages to keep workers in the jobs and not move to a better paying job. Similarly, import penetration would cause the union to insulate the wages for a period of time.
Narrowing of the Union Wage Premium Gap
Although wages for workers in trade unions are higher than non-union workers, the gap decreased in the late 20th and early 21st Century. This gap decrease could be due to the diminishing ability for unions to get monopoly rents, hence the rents affected by technology, competition from overseas, and deregulation of different firms/workplaces.Another study done by on union wage premiums attributes this narrowing of this gap to labor markets strengthening with time. Thus this strengthening depends on the actual and expected inflation of the union workers who are covered by their cost of living adjustments.
Impact of Union Wage Premiums
Union wage premiums show the direct benefits of being a member of a union. Although the union wage premiums have fallen for private sectorPrivate sector
In economics, the private sector is that part of the economy, sometimes referred to as the citizen sector, which is run by private individuals or groups, usually as a means of enterprise for profit, and is not controlled by the state...
, it has raised for the public sector
Public sector
The public sector, sometimes referred to as the state sector, is a part of the state that deals with either the production, delivery and allocation of goods and services by and for the government or its citizens, whether national, regional or local/municipal.Examples of public sector activity range...
in the U.S. Union wage premiums also usually raise the wages of low-skilled workers more than those of high-skilled workers. Thus these low skilled workers usually have less education, lower wages, and in lower paid jobs. This mainly is the result of unions historically representing the working and lower classes. Most economist and labor studies on union wage premiums estimate a difference of about 15%.
Another study reports a much smaller wage difference of 7.7% and 6.0% in workplaces with more than 100 workers. Some studies also argue that as a consequence of unions raising their wages especially if about the market rate wage, it can cause serious firm profitability and eventually jobs could be lost. In some instances union presence in the firm can be associated with 3 to 9 percentage lower net income on assets for the firm but the opposite effect occurs when union density or size is lower.
Lower-wage, middle-wage, blue-collar
Blue-collar worker
A blue-collar worker is a member of the working class who performs manual labor. Blue-collar work may involve skilled or unskilled, manufacturing, mining, construction, mechanical, maintenance, technical installation and many other types of physical work...
, and high school educated workers are also more likely than high-wage, white-collar
White-collar worker
The term white-collar worker refers to a person who performs professional, managerial, or administrative work, in contrast with a blue-collar worker, whose job requires manual labor...
, and college-educated workers to be represented by unions. This is mainly because they raise the wages of the bottom and middle of the wage distribution than that of the top. The explanation that is given for this sector is that it is receiving more than the white collar sector with wage premiums. As well as with larger wages these workers have more purchasing power and their household incomes also increase, thus this wage premium not only effects their budget line but also their household budget line. Another study also backs up the emphasis of importance of wage union premiums among pay structures, especially with the wages of the lowest paid having an effect on pay differentials among gender, ethnicities, health, and different types of occupations. Thus although unions have become smaller in size and participation among the different worker sectors throughout time, those that have survived are more apt and able to negotiate and demand a higher wage premium from their firms and businesses. Union wages also hold up better with increased international competition than those of non-union workers wages although this might mean less union employment in their sector.
There were also changes through time of the union wage premium among different groups in the labor market. The changes could be seen through gender, skill, and the private and public sector of the labor market. Through studies and figures it was shown that the wage premium was largest in the least skilled for both males and females. But for males there is a decline in wage premiums as their skill increases so the wage premium is negative for men with very high skilled jobs. The pattern for the public and private sector was extremely similar especially during the years of 1973 through 1993.
How to Estimate the Union Wage Premium
The formula for the estimate:lnwit=β1Xu + Σj αjt Iijt + Σf πjt Iijt Uit +εit,
Thus where w denotes equals weekly wage of the i, the individual in t years, X
is the control variable (education, experience, gender, marriage, part-time work, census divisions, and twelve occupations). Ij is the indicator variable for industry j, U is the indicator variable for union membership and ε is the regression error. The πjt is the union wage premium in industry j in year t.
External links
- Union Wage Premium
- The Union Wage Premium in US and the UK
- Changes in the Union Wage Premium by Industry
- How unions help all workers
- Labor Market Segmentation and The Union Wage Premium
- Reconsidering union wage effects: Surveying new evidence on an old topic
- Policy Studies Institute: The Union Wage Premium in US and the UK
- Economics 322