Attivismo Sindacale, Soddisfazione dei Lavoratori e Cambiamenti Organizzativi

The adoption of new technologies and new methods in human resource management generates deep changes in the workplace environment. This paper analyses both theoretically and empirically the reactions of workers and, in particular, of union activists face to these changes, in terms of their degree of reported satisfaction. Our data refer to a firm undergoing major organizational changes in recent years. At the aggregate level we find that union activists report a higher level of dissatisfaction than other workers. The theoretical model provides a rationale for this evidence and shows that activists reactions may either be genuine and strategic, the latter component arising from the loss of rents expected by activists. The empirical analysis is characterised by the ability to distinguish between the two components. Results indicate that activists reactions are mainly driven by the strategic element.