Thomas A. Kochan
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
It is understandable why unions turn to neutrality, card check, and other nonelection processes to gain recognition. The law simply no longer works to protect workers’ right to join a union or gain access to collective bargaining. So unions are forced to work around the NLRB’s election procedures. But why do some companies agree to card checks or otherwise limit their efforts to resist or avoid unionization? I will suggest a two-element equation to answer this question: power and value added by unionism.
