‘Union effect’ 


New research from the USA provides further evidence of the “union effect” on health and safety. 


Does ‘right to work’ imperil the right to health? The effect of labour unions on workplace fatalities, examines the impact of America’s right to work (RTW) laws, which weaken unions. The study shows how RTW has led to an increase in work-related deaths.


It finds the effect of a 1% decline in unionisation as a result of RTW is around a 5% increase in the rate of occupational fatalities. The authors say the findings “illustrate and quantify the protective effect of unions on workers’ safety”.


https://oem.bmj.com/content/early/2018/06/13/oemed-2017-104747