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Crossing the line: The determinants of picket line crossing during a faculty strike

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Abstract

This study builds on the strike-militancy literature by examining the determinants of the union member’s decision to cross a picket line during a 29-day university faculty strike. As hypothesized, voting behavior in authorization and ratification elections significantly predicted crossing behavior, suggesting that strike voting may provide information about the level of support for the strike and, in turn, the level of bargaining power. In addition, satisfaction with the administration, union commitment, attitudes toward unions, co-worker social support, and the perceived cost of striking were significantly related to crossing behavior.

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Klaas, B.S., McClendon, J.A. Crossing the line: The determinants of picket line crossing during a faculty strike. Journal of Labor Research 16, 331–346 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02685761

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