A multivariate analysis of the relationship between the personal characteristics of labor organization leaders : and length of tenure in presidential office, organizational size, and organizational growth

Labor unions are not-for-profit organizations that might benefit from more extensive use of strategic management. If strategic management were to be practiced, the elected labor organization presidents would be the strategists comparable to CEOs in private enterprise. To investigate the labor organization presidents, the particular questions posed were: (a) What are the personal characteristics of incumbent labor union presidents? (b) What are the personal characteristics that differentiate labor union presidents who have been in office for long time periods from those newly elected? (c) What are the personal characteristics that differentiate labor union presidents from small unions from those from large unions? (d) What are the personal characteristics that differentiate labor union presidents from growing unions from those which are not growing?

The data collection consisted of two phases. First, secondary data were gathered from biographical dictionaries. Second, primary data were collected by requesting the vitae of labor organization leaders. It was possible to gather data on 142 labor organization leaders who were in office in 1982. Since the labor organizations range from white collar professionals to unskilled blue collar workers, all types of labor organizations appeared to be represented.

Each of the personal characteristics studied—age, education, sex, race, occupational background of parents, and career pattern— was described through use of summary statistics. Whenever possible, comparisons were made to national standards and to prior research projects. Perhaps the best description of the labor leaders is "varied" due to the large amount of variance encountered.

In order to investigate the relationships, MANOVA, ANOVA, and discriminant analysis were utilized. The MANOVA procedure depicted the age of election to the union presidency and the age at present to be related to the length of tenure in office, organizational size, and organizational growth. In addition, the univariate ANOVA procedure revealed a significant relationship between the personal characteristics and length of tenure in presidential office and between the personal characteristics and organizational growth. However, the ANOVA procedure did not provide support for an association between the personal characteristics and organizational size.