Unionized Employees'Perceptions of Role Stress and Fairness during Organizational Downsizing: Consequences for Job Satisfaction, Union Satisfaction and Well-Being

Abstract

Although a number of studies have shown that the stres and insecurity associated with downsizing may have detrimental consequences for employee work attitudes and well-being, little is known about the consequences for union attitudes. Using questionnaire data from a Swedish hospital, we investigated the relative importance of downsizing-related variables and factors associated with fan treatment for job satisfaction, ulnion satisfaction and well -being. Downsizing characteristics wore negatively associated with job satisfaction and well-being but unrelated to union satisfaction. Fan treatment from the hospital predicted job satisfaction while fan treatment from the union was positively associated with both union satisfaction and well-being. Although there was no evidence that f ainess could moderate the negative effects of downsizing stress on outeomes, the results indicate that an active role by unions in the downsizing proess may have beneficial consequences not only for members'union attitudes but also for their well-being.