Union Bargaining Decisions and Contract Ratifications: The 1982 and 1984 Auto Agreements

The authors of this study investigate the determinants of union contract ratification votes by analyzing plant-level data relevant to the 1982 and 1984 auto industry agreements with the UAW. The results strongly suggest that the more vulnerable workers are to layoff, the more likely they are to vote for ratification of proposed agreements. The results also show, however, that workers tend to vote against ratification in plants in which, other things equal, the labor relations climate is poor. In addition, comparisons across contracts indicate how voting patterns associated with various plant and worker characteristics change when contract proposals shift toward greater job security and away from wage increases.