<p>European countries offer a variety of different unionisation models, so provide reasonable evidence on the usual consequences of unionisation.  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2006/jan/28/careers.themilitary" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Dutch military personnel are represented by a union</a>, for instance.</p>

<p>The <a href="http://euromil.org/military-trade-unionism-europe/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">European Association of Military Organisations appears sanguine</a> about the idea, although many European military unions don't have the right to strike (emphasis added):</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The President concluded by emphasizing that EUROMIL strongly believes
  that <strong>military trade unionism does not harm military efficiency</strong>. On the
  contrary, being represented in trade unions and professional
  associations can enhance the [morale] and loyalty of the troops.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Less information is available about the consequences of unionisation on working hours; in general, it seems that unions appear to understand and accept the reasons for long working hours under certain circumstances.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-26T11:32:36.173Z
2018-06-26T11:32:36.173Z
Dan
<p>I hear about the extremely long work hours in the army. I understand it hardens them for readiness for combat situations. With the technology and increase of intelligence need to operate it would a more normal work schedule be more efficient and less mistakes? </p>

<p>How much more would it cost the military to have union like rules? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-09T19:54:52.767Z
Is a valid answer "the concept of unions cannot possibly work with the military?"  The way I look at it, the key requirement for unions to operate is the feasibility of collective bargaining.  Collective bargaining in a business that cannot ever support the possibility of a strike is going to be a monumental challenge.
Cort Ammon
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-09T21:50:27.833Z
Military discipline and unions are antithetical.
zeta-band
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-10T13:39:08.037Z
They cannot just add more people in a combat zone (to allow them to work shorter hours). More people = more mouths to feed, making logistics even more difficult.
Brian Romanchuk
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-02T13:15:19.650Z
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because I think this question is more to do with organizational psychology.
ahorn
<labor-economics><political-economy>
Would the military be more efficiant if they were unionized?
Muze
# Would the military be more efficiant if they were unionized?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-02-09)

I hear about the extremely long work hours in the army. I understand it hardens them for readiness for combat situations. With the technology and increase of intelligence need to operate it would a more normal work schedule be more efficient and less mistakes?

How much more would it cost the military to have union like rules?

**Tags:** labor-economics, political-economy

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Is a valid answer "the concept of unions cannot possibly work with the military?"  The way I look at it, the key requirement for unions to operate is the feasibility of collective bargaining.  Collective bargaining in a business that cannot ever support the possibility of a strike is going to be a monumental challenge.  
> **username_2**: Military discipline and unions are antithetical.  
> **username_3**: They cannot just add more people in a combat zone (to allow them to work shorter hours). More people = more mouths to feed, making logistics even more difficult.  
> **username_4**: I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because I think this question is more to do with organizational psychology.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2018-06-26. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

European countries offer a variety of different unionisation models, so provide reasonable evidence on the usual consequences of unionisation. [Dutch military personnel are represented by a union](https://www.theguardian.com/money/2006/jan/28/careers.themilitary), for instance.

The [European Association of Military Organisations appears sanguine](http://euromil.org/military-trade-unionism-europe/) about the idea, although many European military unions don't have the right to strike (emphasis added):

> The President concluded by emphasizing that EUROMIL strongly believes
> that **military trade unionism does not harm military efficiency**. On the
> contrary, being represented in trade unions and professional
> associations can enhance the [morale] and loyalty of the troops.

Less information is available about the consequences of unionisation on working hours; in general, it seems that unions appear to understand and accept the reasons for long working hours under certain circumstances.


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