This study analyses a baseline dataset collected for an evaluation of a co-operation
project that assists trade unions in Zambia to boost their activities. The data were
collected from 51 establishments to study attitudes towards unions, working conditions
and the views of employers and trade union representatives on each other. The results
show that employees have, by and large, positive views on unions but turning to unions
when there are problems is not particularly common. Wages are often considered to be
too low and assumed to be lower than those of similar individuals elsewhere or even in
the same establishment. Regression analysis shows that having positive views on unions
per se has a positive association with satisfaction and negative correlation with resign
intentions. Union membership, however, seems to be correlated with employees being
more discontent with their wages in some instances, though the direction of causality is
unclear.