UNIONIZATION/UNION DENSITY
| SPAIN |
| SINDICALIZACION UNIONIZATION/UNION DENSITY |
Membership of the various trade unions in a given sphere or period. Unionization can be measured in absolute terms, by calculating the total number of union members, or in relative terms, by comparing the number of members with the total working population (tasa de sindicalización or tasa de afiliación , i.e. union density). This method makes it possible to assess real union strength , although the number of union members is not the sole indicator of a trade union's power, which can also be measured in terms of its trade union influence or ability to mobilize the workers. Union density in Spain seems to be stabilized at around 15 per cent. of the working population. This low level is due to various reasons: the existence of other channels of representation, the general applicability of collective agreements, the unions' lack of funds and consequent inability to provide many services for their members, the number of small enterprises, etc.
Please note: the European industrial relations glossaries were compiled between 1991 and 2003 and are not updated. For current material see the European industrial relations dictionary.