10.2190/MG09-9U2Q-NV28-TGN6 MG099U2QNV28TGN6 0 WHY PUBLIC EMPLOYEES JOIN UNIONS IN A NONBARGAINING ENVIRONEMENT 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=MG099U2QNV28TGN6 3 RICHARD L. COFFINBERGER, This study investigated the reasons why fire fighters in Virginia have joined the Virginia Association of Professional Fire Fighters in the absence of legislation authorizing collective bargaining by public employees and whether those reasons differ from the reasons why other workers join unions. It was concluded that employees in a nonbargaining environment unionize for the same reasons as private sector workers but for different reasons than other types of public employees in environments more conducive to collective bargaining.