The importance of multiple leadership roles in fostering participation

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to examine the direct and indirect effect of high and low-level local union leaders on various forms of member participation.Design methodology approach - Interviews and surveys of the leaders and members of an Educators Association operating in the USA were used to explore these complex relationships. Multiple regression, hierarchical regression, and path analyses were used to test direct and indirect relationship and the amount of variance explained by participatory leadership.Findings - Survey results indicate that a member's perception of the participatory style of the local union president positively related to, and explained a significant amount of additional variance in, union activities that require moderate and high levels of effort. No support was found for the workplace representative's direct relationship with various measures of member participation. The indirect effects of the union president's and the workplace representatives' participatory style on union involvement highlight the importance of various union leadership roles on developing various union attitudes.Research limitations implications - Limitations include the cross-sectional nature of the study, common method bias, and a small sample size (N=113).Practical implications - Results of the study highlight the importance of the union president in fostering union attitudes and certain forms of union participation. The findings suggest areas for leadership development and training opportunities of union officials.Originality value - Unique elements of the study include an exploration of multiple leadership roles on union attitudes and various forms of union participation.