Prosocial Unionism, Workplace Instrumentality and the Union Experience in the United States, Canada and France

ABSTRACT Satisfaction with union representation is often linked to a union's ability to improve compensation and working conditions (workplace instrumentality). Yet, union activities extend beyond the workplace, affecting social, political and economic outcomes. We explore workplace instrumentality and prosocial unionism as predictors of members’ ‘union experience’, a proxy for union satisfaction, in the United States, Canada and France. We propose that the workplace instrumentality effect on union satisfaction is strongest where union strategies are more market‐oriented (e.g., Canada and the United States), and that the prosocial unionism effect on union satisfaction is strongest where unions are more oriented to society and class (e.g., France). Results provide partial support but also demonstrate the importance of prosocial unionism as a key predictor in all three nations.