TEACHERS' ATTITUDES TOWARD UNIONS, WORKING CONDITIONS, AND STRIKES FOLLOWING AN ILLEGAL STRIKE IN THE SOUTHWEST

CHARLES R. GREER AND M. PATRICIA BROWN


DOI: 10.2190/2MTF-PGJD-XVT7-XTEJ

Abstract

This study examines the attitudes toward unions and strike activity that are held by teachers who were involved in one of the few teachers' strikes in the Southwest. Data on such attitudes as well as perceptions of economic satisfaction, perceptions of fair treatment by the school board, school size, union membership, and demographic characteristics were collected through the use of a questionnaire. Major findings were that low satisfaction with wages and unfair treatment are associated with feelings that teachers' strikes are legitimate and high evaluations of the service provided by unions. Younger teachers' males, and union members also tend to have higher evaluations of union service, while younger teachers and union members have stronger feelings that teachers' strikes are legitimate. Finally, as a group, the Oklahoma City teachers do not differ from U.S. workers in general in their perceptions of the service provided by unions; however, they have substantially lower perceptions of union power.

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