Labour Immigration and Union Strength

Henning Finseraas (), Marianne Roed () and Pål Schøne ()
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Henning Finseraas: Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
Marianne Roed: Institute for Social Research, Oslo

No 11723, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: To what extent is labour mobility in the European Union a threat to the strength of unions? We argue that the combination of cheap labour, workforce heterogeneity, and low unionization among labour immigrants' is a potential challenge for unions. The challenge will be particularly severe if immigrant competition affects natives' propensity to unionize. We examine this claim using Norwegian administrative data in a natural experiment framework. The 2004 EU expansion led to a rapid increase in labour migration to the construction sector. Licensing demands, however, protected some workers from immigrant competition. Comparisons of protected and exposed workers reveal negative labour market effects of the EU expansion for exposed workers, but no effect on union membership. Our results question important theories of unionization and are relevant for research on immigration, political behaviour and collective action.

Keywords: wages; union; immigration; employment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J21 J31 J51 J61 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 40 pages
Date: 2018-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eec, nep-lab and nep-mig
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Published - published in: European Union Politics, 2020, 21 (1), 3-23.

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