Alternative models of the determination of the union status of women wage-laborers

Two models of the determination of female union status are developed and empirically estimated. One takes a conventional, the other a nonconventional, approach to union status determination. In the conventional model, the unionization decision is solely dependent on workers, who have clear cut preferences for or against union representation. The nonconventional model, however, recognizes that worker preference or desire for union representation is necessary, but not sufficient to determine union status. It assumes that there are two decisionmakers in the unionization process--workers and potential union employers and recognizes the possibility of queues for existing union jobs. This model involves the estimation of three separate probabilities: (1) the probability that a worker is unionized (2) the probability that a worker desires union representation and (3) the probability that a worker who desires union representation is hired by a union employer. It is possible to estimate this model in the conventional manner, utilizing data on union status alone, however, these data only tell whether a worker is union or nonunion making it impossible to discern whether nonunion status is due to lack of desire for union representation or inability to get hired by a union employer. To resolve this ambiguity additional data from the Quality of Employment Survey are utilized. This survey includes unique information on worker desire for union representation which enable full identification and estimation of the model. Interesting results emerge from this analysis that are not forthcoming from a conventional investigation into female unionization, particularly with respect to explaining why workers are more or less likely to be unionized.The influence of discrimination on female unionization is also discussed, with reference to some leading theories of economic discrimination. Finally, recommendations are presented for improving the representation of women in the American labor movement based on the empirical results and other observations related to discrimination and the general labor market experiences of women wage-laborers.