Understanding and utilizing administrative versus union priorities to improve the organization

Abstract

Many public emergency service organizations contain an organized and united workforce, commonly known as a union. The purpose of this research is to discover or reveal the extent in which positive or negative working relationships between unions and administrators influence morale, production, and safety concerns. The academic literature tells us that a positive and healthy working relationship between unions and administrations would improve the organization, but we have a void knowledge about how to create a positive and healthy working relationship and how that relationship would improve the organization. Data was collected via surveys with a target population of full-time fire department employees that are or were part of an organization that has an organized union or association to represent the members of the organization regarding administrative issues. The variables analyzed for this study measure individual perceptions of workplace morale, employee production, and the effect of safety issues on workplace morale and employee production. The results show that firefighters view workplace morale and employee production differently based on their perception of the working relationship between administrators and unions. It also shows that an individual's position in an organization, whether union member, union leader, administrator, or a combination of these roles changes their perception of workplace morale and employee production. Finally, it shows that an individual's position in an organization, whether union member, union leader, administrator, or a combination of these roles changes their position regarding safety issues within the organization. The findings of this study can help public safety organizations recognize the need to develop and improve the working relationship between administrators and employees/labor associations. Without high morale for the employees, the production levels may not be the best that they can be. Future research should focus on avenues to improve the cohesion and working relationship between unions and administration by increasing communication, collaboration, education, and mutual training.