Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP15350
Authors: Alison L. Booth; Richard B. Freeman; Xin Meng; James Zhang
Abstract: Using a panel survey, we investigate how the welfare of rural-urban migrant workers in China is affected by trade union presence at the workplace. Controlling for individual fixed- effects, we find the following. Relative to workers from workplaces without union presence or with inactive unions, both union-covered non-members and union members in workplaces with active unions earn higher monthly income, are more likely to have a written contract, be covered by social insurances, receive fringe benefits, express work-related grievances through official channels, feel more satisfied with their lives, and are less likely to have mental health problems.
Keywords: trade union; rural-urban migration; China
JEL Codes: J5; O53; P21; P30
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Union presence (J45) | Increased earnings (J31) |
| Union presence (J45) | Increased likelihood of having a written contract (D86) |
| Union presence (J45) | Improved access to social insurance and fringe benefits (J32) |
| Union presence (J45) | Enhanced job satisfaction and mental health (J28) |