WORKER PERCEPTIONS OF PROCEDURAL JUSTICE IN WORKERS COMPENSATION CLAIMS - DO UNIONS MAKE A DIFFERENCE

The differences between union and nonunion workers' perceptions of the fairness of the workers' compensation claims process are examined. The hypothesis tested is that union members should perceive this process as more fair due to union ''voice.'' The data were collected in a survey of injured workers in Michigan who had filed a workers' compensation claim. The empirical results indicate that unions have little impact on the perceived fairness of the claims process and that the main contribution of unions is the provision of a complaint mechanism.