National survey on trade unions in Malta

Abstract

The aim of this survey was to investigate the attitudes of the general adult population on trade unionism. The target population for this survey consisted of all persons aged between 15 and 64 residing in private dwellings in Malta and Gozo, totalling 278,439 persons. A stratified random sampling process was employed for this survey. A total of 4,270 persons were contacted, of whom 1,512 participated, while another 2,262 persons were not eligible to participate. This resulted in a net effective response rate of 75.3%. Data was collected by means of Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) in November and December 2014. After examining and correcting inaccuracies, data was analysed through the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). About a third (33.8%) of all employees are currently trade union members. Another 18.4% were enrolled in a trade union in the past. Male and female employees are similarly likely to be trade union members. However, when considering all respondents (including the unemployed and inactive), women are more likely than men to have never been unionised or to have stopped their trade union membership. Older male employees are much more likely to be trade union members than younger ones, but there is no significant age difference in unionisation among female employees. On the other hand, membership in trade unions, especially among female employees, tends to increase with higher qualifications. Professionals, technicians and craft workers are the most likely occupational categories to be unionised, while armed forces, elementary, agricultural and fishery workers are the least likely. Employees on indefinite, full-time contracts, in the public sector, and in large private organisations are significantly more likely to be unionised than other employees. The most densely unionised economic activities are education (57.7% of the respondents in this sector claim to be unionised), and health and social work activities (54.3%). The main reason given for joining a trade union is to be protected from discrimination in cases of dismissal, overtime, promotions, and other benefits (representing 39.8% of all reasons given). Many respondents also became trade union members to maintain and improve their working conditions including their pay, or to be similar to other employees. While women are more likely to have joined trade unions to be protected from discrimination and to be similar to other employees, men are more likely to have joined trade unions to maintain and improve their working conditions. On the other hand, the main reason given for not being unionised is by far lack of interest/ no need for a trade union/ believe that they can care for themselves (representing 61.8% of all reasons given). Another substantial number of respondents indicated that they did not join a trade union because they do not have a trade union at the workplace. 43.5% of the employed respondents claim to have a signed collective agreement at their place of work. This figure is influenced by the fact that over a fifth (22%) of the respondents are unsure whether they have a collective agreement at their workplace. If one excludes this group of unsure respondents, the percentage of those who have a collective agreement increases to a more substantial 55.8%. In general, the more qualified employees are more likely to be working in an organisation covered by a collective agreement. However, apart from professionals and technicians, operators and assemblers are more likely to be working in organisations covered by collective agreements, when compared to employees in other occupations. Likewise, full-time employees are significantly more likely to work in organisations covered by a collective agreement when compared to those who work parttime. However, there is no significant difference between those who work on a definite or an indefinite contract. Excluding those who are unsure, 86.7% of the employees in the public sector work in organisations covered by a collective agreement, when compared to a much lower 35.8% of those working in the private sector. The chances of being covered by a collective agreement increases in large organisations. Thus, while only 3.7% are covered in companies with less than 10 employees, the figure increases to 71.6% in companies employing 250 persons or more. The large majority of employees working in education, health, social work activities and public administration have collective agreements in their organisation. On the other hand, few employees in wholesale, retail, repair of vehicles, accommodation, or food services work in organisations covered by a collective agreement. Nearly half of all respondents (45.5%) are satisfied with the work done by trade unions in Malta. However, over a third (36.8%) are unsure. Women tend to be significantly less sure than men about this matter. Unionised employees are considerably more satisfied with the work done by trade unions when compared to non-unionised employees (59.8% and 41.6% respectively). Employees’ level of satisfaction with the work done by trade unions is not significantly related their age, level of education, type of occupation, type of contract (definite or indefinite, full-time or part-time), or sector of employment (public or private). On the other hand, whereas women working in smaller organisations are significantly more satisfied with the work done by trade unions when compared to women working in larger organisations, the opposite is true among men. While employees in education, health and social work activities are the most satisfied with the work done by trade unions, those working in information, communication, transportation, storage, and manufacturing are the least satisfied. The main reason why respondents are not satisfied with the work done by trade unions in Malta, is the belief that trade unions do not truly help or provide for the needs of employees; 53.4% of all those who are not satisfied indicated this reason. Significantly more women than men hold this view. The second most common reason (22.4%) is that unions are perceived to be politically partisan. Significantly more men than women hold this view. The majority of the respondents believe that trade unions play an important role in Malta in protecting the rights of workers at the workplace (70.9%), in contributing to national debates (69.0%), in seeking unity among workers (68.4%), and to a somewhat lesser extent, in offering individual services to their members (57.0%). When compared to men, women are slightly less sure about the role being played by unions in Malta. About a quarter of all respondents (24.1%) and nearly a third (30.0%) of employees sought help from a trade union. The results of male and female employees in this regard are relatively similar. Operators, assemblers, professionals and technicians are more likely to have sought help from trade unions when compared to respondents in other occupations. Respondents in full-time and indefinite contracts are more likely to have sought help from trade unions when compared to respondents in part-time and definite contracts. Employees working the public sector or in large private organisations are also more likely to have sought help from trade unions than those working in small private sector organisations. Employees in health, social work activities, education and public administration are the most likely to have sought help from trade unions. On the other hand, those working in wholesale, retail, repair of vehicles, accommodation, or food service, are the least likely to have done so.