Expectations and obligations of the member-union relationship : a psychological contract perspective

Abstract

This qualitative research paper employs psychological contract theory, in order to determine the existence of a psychological contract between trade unions and their members. This is accomplished through identifying the underlying expectations and obligations that govern this relationship. The identified expectations and obligations are categorised into themes according to similarity, and motivated through literature on psychological contract theory and other relevant theories. This article proposes and tests a psychological contract measure specifically designed for the member-union exchange relationship. The study expands on previous research, and motivates the findings of this article through relevant literature. A high level of validity and reliability is maintained throughout the article by complying with the criteria set out by Freese and Schalk (2008) for the effective measurement of the psychological contract. The article concludes that the questionnaire compiled for this study, is in fact an accurate, reliable and valid instrument for the measurement of the Member-Union Psychological Contract, and also indicates the current emotional state of the member-union relationship in the education sector in South Africa.