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Poll: Labor unions losing popularity

By Eric Zimmermann - 09/07/09 09:08 AM ET

Since it's Labor Day, it's worth highlighting the results of a Gallup poll from last week: Labor unions have become markedly less popular in recent years.

Just 48% of Americans approve of labor unions. That's an 11% drop from last year, and a 17% from drop 2003.

While most Americans (66%) believe labor unions are beneficial to their own members, a slim majority (51% to 39%) think unions hurt the overall econonomy. Public opinion is split on whether unions help specific companies.

The implications of this for card-check are, well, not so great.

Source:
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/57487-poll-labor-unions-losing-popularity

Comments (27)

How is 51%-39% a "slim" majority? I would call that "decisive".BY Cyrus on 09/07/2009 at 15:22
Its a shame that 51% believe unions hurt the economy. I notice the age of the people polled was not taken into account. I would bet they are reaping the benefits of the hard won rights of people like Jimmy Hoffa who had to fight to get fair wages, retirement benefits, health care and the right to arbitration. Working people today are so afraid of losing their job to China that they don't have the courage to stand together for what is rightfully theirs, their own self respect. Remember, if it wasn't for the blue collar men and women on the assembly lines, the suits in the tower wouldn't have the multi-million dollar bonus. It is well past the time to stop allowing American companies to move off shore to avoid paying a livable wage. If free trade worked then why are illegal immigrants still crossing the southern border to try to earn a living? Today is a day to honor the working men and women who have made this country the great nation it is. But we should also remember that it was the unions that gave them the opportunity to have the benefits they enjoy today.BY mike on 09/07/2009 at 15:53
The Unions are losing membership like crazy. Thats why they want illgal aliens to become citizens. They want to make them beholden to the unions and then take their union "dues" to refill their coffers so the union fatcats can live the life of luxury. If the unions are so helpful, why can't they stop union jobs from going overseas?By the way, whatever happened to that Jimmy Hoffa guy?BY Dale Thomas on 09/07/2009 at 16:51
By the same slight majority, 42% to 25%, voters in this poll favored less influence for unions.BY Chris Baker on 09/07/2009 at 18:01
There is no longer any reason to pay protection to thugs to keep your job secure. The dept. of labor will ensure you do not get fired without cause. It is time to destroy the unions, before they continue their destruction of our capitalist system. Americans should look for the union label, and IGNORE IT.Do not vacation in any union state. Do not but anything made by an American union. Do not, and I'm happy to say this is already happening, DO NOT BUT A STOLEN CAR FROM OBAMA, GM OR CHRYSLER! Let the thugs go to he!!.Bankrupt the unions, and if the SEIU carries out the threat its boss just declared, ("if the power of persuasion does not work, we will use the persuasion of power"), and you are threatened by them over their terrorist activities to force death care on us, shoot them. You are under no obligation to be intimidated by THE ONE or his hired thugs. Get carry permits and wear your weapons. If you fell threatened, use your right to self defense to kill them, before they kill you for your views.Make union members an endangered species, like wolves. If they stay where they belong and don't bother anyone, leave them be. But if they act like the predators and thugs they are, protect yourself, and take out as many as possible.Ron Realerealetybyt es@yahoo.comrealetybytes .townhall.comBY Ron Reale on 09/07/2009 at 19:06
Unions only make sense in economies of workers with low mobility. That's why we see a continuing decline of Unions. US workers have been increasingly mobile: Willing to move for work across the country, or commute two hours to their job. In European nations, that's unheard of, partly because of high switching costs and partly because many more jobs are unionized. US productivity / worker dwarfs the Euro equivalent.BY Michael Taylor on 09/07/2009 at 20:20
As a union worker who had just voted himself out of a job said, "I'd rather not have a job than make $13 an hour.Where he thinks he's going to get another job paying his original $21 per hour for mfg. line work, I don't know. Neither does he.Will taxpayers end up supporting these people who are too good to make $13 per hour?BY Char on 09/07/2009 at 21:03
This poll shows a drop directly related to the fear inspired by this horrible economy. What is the pychology going on here? We know that your chances of getting fired are high if you agitate for a Union. The fact is that if you have a Union job you are almost certain to have better wages, healthcare benefits, paid holidays, sick leave and paid vacation. Low paid workers especially do better when they join together to bargain for themselves. Do not let fear guide you.BY Vicki on 09/07/2009 at 21:24
Mike, the unions have made our products so costly that we need to go overseas. Get rid of the unions and work will return!BY Robert on 09/07/2009 at 22:37
The Unions were taken over as a political arm of the Democratic Party when Janet Reno went after Ron Carey. Carey led the shortest, most successful and necessary strike in history against Fed Ex.Janet Reno accused him of "improper of use of campaign funds" and forced him out. Even though he was found innocent he had to sign a pledge never to serve as a Unions Representative again.The Justice Department is using the same tactics against Sheriff Joe in Arizona. The Unions are nothing more than the strong arm..brownshirts ..for the Democratic Party.BY M And M on 09/07/2009 at 23:36

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