Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Political Science

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

This dissertation aims to explore how union membership and public-sector employment work together to influence individual political behavior, including voter turnout, voting choices, policy preferences, and social identity. Does government employment moderate the typical effects we have come to expect from union membership in politics? Using the Bureau Voting model of government growth where a) government employees vote at higher rates than ordinary citizens, b) support for government spending is significantly higher among individuals employed in the public sector, and c) government employees are more likely to support candidates who are in favor of more government spending, I outline my expectations for how public employment will interact with union membership to influence voter turnout, voting choices, policy preferences (Garand, Parkhurst, and Seoud 1991). Given the historical context of labor unions in U.S. politics, I also examine the effects of union membership and government employment on social class identity over time. Using the Cumulative American National Election Studies (CANES) data, I model the relationship between public sector employment and union membership over time. Although I find some notable changes in social class identity over time among union and non-union households, I find that government employment does not moderate the effect of union membership on social class identity. Although I find significant individual effects on voter turnout by union membership and public employment, I do not find that public employment moderates the effect of union membership on voter turnout. For vote choice, I find that public employment does not moderate the effect of union membership on vote choice in any significant way. Lastly, I explore the effects of union membership and government employment on support for federal spending on education, the environment, and childcare. I find that government employment moderates the effect of union membership on support for spending on education, the environment, and childcare. This effect is significant and positive in all three policy areas.

Date

5-17-2024

Committee Chair

Garand, James C.

Download

Available for download on Monday, May 17, 2027

Share

COinS