Predicting the Outcome of Union Certification Elections: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

This paper reviews the large body of literature examining the outcomes of NLRB certification elections. The authors first review the major patterns of the research conducted to date and then analyze twenty-nine studies in depth. These studies exemplify the range of methodologies used and results obtained within each of the two major kinds of election studies: those analyzing data gathered from individual voters and those analyzing NLRB data on election units. The review concludes with an appraisal of the current state of research on election outcomes and with policy recommendations for labor, management, and government representatives.