Consequences of third party observers' perceptions of labor disputes: An examination of distributive and procedural justice

This study examined third party observers' fairness judgments of the reasons and the procedures used during labor negotiations and their retributive intentions towards the employer as prospective employees and clients, as well as their retributive intentions and support for strike. Participants (n = 248) were randomly assigned to 1 of 16 conditions representing a 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 design: the Fairness of the Demands (unfair vs. fair) x the Seriousness of the Negotiations (not serious vs. serious) x Type of Dispute (strike vs. lockout) x Type of Sector (private/construction workers and public/nurses). The general union attitude scale was also added to the study as a covariate. Third party observers reported higher perceptions of distributive and procedural justice when they were placed in conditions representing fair demands and fair procedures. Observers also reported higher levels of support for strike when they were presented with a fair reason for the underlying dispute and higher levels of retributive intentions towards the employer when either party did not seriously negotiate.