Precarious Job and Union Tendencies among Women and Young Employees: The Relationships between Economic Constraints, Job Security and Trust in Employers

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine whether having a precarious job (low job security) increases union tendencies among female workers and young workers. The study examines the relationship between economic constraints, trust in employers and union attitudes in terms of gender and age in the context of the antecedents and consequences of job security. Data were collected using a survey conducted among 804 Turkish employees working in various sectors and analysed through multi-group path models, t-tests and ANOVA to measure job security objectively and subjectively. Economic constraints increase the acceptance of low job security and decrease trust towards employers. The research also indicates that poorer job security does not affect collective and union tendencies. While precarious jobs are more intense among young and women employees, there is no difference in their union tendencies. This article used the decent work perspective to explore the consequences of having a precarious job among women and young workers in Turkey. We assumed that the perception of precariousness reduces trust towards employers and strengthens collective and union tendencies. We also argue that economic constraints play an important role in choosing precarious jobs. We also test whether women and young employees, as two prominent disadvantaged groups, have collective efficacy and union efficacy in precarious job conditions.