THE LOYALTY OF PUBLIC SECTOR SUPERVISORS: THE EFFECTS OF UNIONIZATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY

CLYDE SCOTT AND ANSON SEERS


DOI: 10.2190/51DD-GDNH-HTH7-62JV

Abstract

This article reports the results of an empirical study involving mental healthcare workers on the effects of unionization and administrative authority on public sector supervisors' loyalty to management. Results indicate that unionized supervisors do not display lower levels of commitment than their nonunionized counterparts to the goals of their employer. Unionized supervisors do, however, show significantly higher levels of identification with union positions on bargaining issues than do nonunion supervisors. Results also indicate that the extent to which supervisory employees perceived they had administrative authority was related to their level of commitment to organizational goals. However, administrative authority had little impact on the supervisors' identification with management or union positions on collective bargaining issues.

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