Union Membership and Job Satisfaction: Initial Evidence from French Linked Employer-Employee Data

A number of contradictory theoretical hypotheses have been advanced regarding the relationship between unionization and job satisfaction. The effect of unionization on job satisfaction is thus an empirical issue. In this article, the existing empirical literature is reviewed through a meta-analysis. In addition, new evidence of the effects of unionization on overall job satisfaction is presented using French linked employer-employee data from the 2011 REPONSE Survey. The results indicate that union members are less satisfied with their jobs and more likely to complain than non-members. However, after controlling for endogeneity of union membership, I find this difference in job satisfaction between unionized and non-unionized employees disappears.