Unions are great for health and the economy

A union presence has a strong positive effect on the health of the workforce and the economy, a Europe-wide study has found. Researchers Maureen Dollard and Daniel Neser from the University of South Australia combined five different data sets canvassing 31 wealthy European countries, including the UK. They found 13 per cent of the variance in national life expectancy could be explained by differences in worker self-reported health and national gross domestic product (GDP) - and unions were a key factor explaining these differences. The paper states: 'It is important to note that it was not the quality of work conditions, but rather, workplace protective factors at both the macro (union density) and organisational level (PSC [psychosocial conditions]) that were most important for worker health.' It adds: 'For worker health our main finding is that national health inequalities have their basis in national power and structural factors implied by union density that give rise to concrete psychosocial conditions, individual resources, public resources and working conditions that could affect worker health.' The authors conclude: 'A healthy workforce is good for the economy. The observation that worker self-reported health is related to GDP and life expectancy assessed at a national level underscores the importance of the work context for national health and productivity status. Two levels of labour protection, macro-level (union density), and organisational- level (PSC) were most important for worker health.' They add: 'The prominence of union density and its influence on workplace PSC for worker health raises the possibility that external forces can go further toward improving working circumstances (eg. additional legislation, guidance).' They say it is crucial that 'participatory occupational safety and health policy and programmes' are expanded, with their results indicating 'worker health is good for the economy, and should be considered in national health and productivity accounting. Eroding unionism may not be good for worker health or the economy either.'

Maureen F Dollard and Daniel Y Neser. Worker health is good for the economy: Union density and psychosocial safety climate as determinants of country differences in worker health and productivity in 31 European countries, Social Science & Medicine, volume 92, pages 114-123, September 2013.