PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER ATTITUDES TOWARD UNIONIZATION

THOMAS Q. GILSON AND ELIAST T. RAMOS

DOI: 10.2190/RC3F-YCA7-C98A-A8UG

Abstract

An attitude survey among public school teachers toward unionization and job satisfaction was conducted in a sample of schools in Hawaii, using one school each in urban and rural areas at the elementary, intermediate, and high school levels. The return rate was low, so the results are only suggestive. Even among those who replied, involvement in union affairs was very low. But a very large majority felt that unions in public employment are necessary. A majority felt that public employees should have the right to strike. But more than half of the sample felt that the dues or service fee was too high. Although most of the respondents felt that the union serves as a channel for grievances, they also felt that they would go directly to the principal or perhaps to fellow teachers instead of the union if they personally had a grievance. A big majority was satisfied with teaching and had good relations with the principal. Some differences were suggested in terms of sex, age, tenure, and ethnic background.

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