Customer Reviews

The Paradox of American Unionism: Why Americans Like Unions More Than Canadians Do, But Join Much Less

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The book presents a challenging hypothesis that some may not agree with or like: that deep seated national values matter and can explain why Americans, despite appearing more union friendly in survey approval ratings, have much lower union density than Canadians. The argument is not a new one, Lipset himself made the argument many years ago, but what is novel his how the seeming contradictory data regarding opinion polls actually can be used by the authors to show that Americans are not so easily dislodged from their deep values of freedom. Canadians, on the other hand, have less fear of equality or government involvement, and it this that translates into laws and behaviour (as opposed to attitudes) that are more union friendly north of the border. I liked this book, but it demands patience to read through all the data. If I was a student studying labour markets or industrial relations it would be invaluable.

Lipset et al. assert facts, provide statistical evidence, and use quantitative methods to prove their point without helping us understand why Americans do not join unions. The book is simplistic, and rehashes old arguments. The writers fail to use historical and comparative analysis of the divergent tracks and the U.S. and Canada have in labor relations. The statistical analysis does not substantiate the problemmatic that U.S. workers are more or less militant than Canadians. Not to be taken seriously THE PARADOX OF AMERICAN UNIONISM is nothing more than an ideological screed for intellectuals with lots of time on their hands but little to say of substance.