A study of attitudes toward distributive and procedural aspects of the grievance procedure and organizational commitment

Karen Beth Lieuallen, Marquette University

Abstract

This study had five primary objectives. First, to determine attitudes of teacher union members and principals of public schools in the state of Wisconsin toward four aspects of the grievance procedure. Second, to determine commitment levels of teachers and principals toward the school organization. Third, to determine if there is a correlation between attitudes of union members toward the grievance procedure and commitment to the school organization. Fourth to establish if perceptions of the process of the grievance procedure (procedural aspects) are more central to expressed attitude toward the grievance procedure than are perceptions of outcomes (distributive aspects). Fifth, to examine whether demographic variables have an effect on attitude toward the grievance procedure and/or organizational commitment levels. The methodology employed was a mail survey of teacher members of the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) and principals of public schools. Correlation analysis, regression procedures, and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) were used to analyze the relationships between Section One means (ATGP) and Section Two means (OCQ) and the independent variables included in this study. Results indicate that teachers and principals have positive attitudes toward the grievance procedure, and have higher than average levels of commitment to their school organizations. A correlation was established between attitude toward the grievance procedure and commitment to the school organization. Analysis of the four identified aspects of the grievance procedure provided additional insight into the procedural and distributive aspects of the grievance procedure process. Teachers and principals have reversed and contrasting perceptions of the importance of these elements, that is, teachers prioritized the procedural elements, while principals prioritized the distributive elements. Analysis of demographic data also established a significant relationship between Section One means (ATGP) and gender, age, educational level, union involvement, and tenure, and between Section Two means (OCQ) and age, geographical area, union involvement, and the consensus or win-win bargaining model. The question of what shapes the level of commitment of individuals to the public sector organization is a fundamental issue in labor relations and public sector negotiations. This study has made a significant contribution toward analysis of this issue.

This paper has been withdrawn.