Do workers trust labor unions and their messages?

This study investigated differences between workers’ attributions of trustworthiness toward their labor union and its messages, as influenced by affiliation behavior and several demographic variables of interest. A complete metropolitan postal district open shop, numbering 4,225, was surveyed. Results demonstrated significant differences between workers’ trust of their labor union and their labor union's messages, favoring the union over its messages. In addition, results demonstrate that affiliation behavior, race, age, and seniority significantly affect perceived trustworthiness of the labor union and its messages. Finally, regression analyses found differences between union and non‐union members on several demographic variables as predictors of trust. The implications of these results for organizational communication research in general, and research on labor unions specifically, are discussed.