A Causal Model of Union Participation : Test of Integrative Models in Korean Public Context

In this research, a causal model of union participation was established and tested empirically focusing on Korean public context, and the results were compared with Bamberger et al. s and Chan et al. s integrative studies. It appeared that union commitment is the best predictor of union participation, and union commitment is in turn influenced most strongly by prounion attitudes. On the other hand, organizational commitment and its antecedent job satisfaction affect negatively union participation. While the results of our research supports most of Bamberger et al. s and Chan et al. s tests of hypotheses, we discovered four peculiar results. Job satisfaction and union instrumentality, thus utility perspectives, and organizational commitment are not important factors influencing union participation in Korean culture and in the public sector. Institutional system and operational practices may be an important interpreting factor for explaining the determinants of union participation in Korean context. Policy and administrative implications for delicately adjusting union participation were suggested by this research.