Labor Unions See Sharp Slide in U.S. Public Support

Gallup ^ | Sept. 3, 2009 | Lydia Saad

[AtlasStalled]

Gallup finds organized labor taking a significant image hit in the past year. While 66% of Americans continue to believe unions are beneficial to their own members, a slight majority now say unions hurt the nation's economy. More broadly, fewer than half of Americans -- 48%, an all-time low -- approve of labor unions, down from 59% a year ago.

[kalee]

Bussing in thugs to harass legitimate protestors has consequences.

[Americanwolf]

I was a member of cwa7050 here in arizona... while working at AT&T and it was corrupt from bow to stern.. as a steward I was blackball at times and was disgusted at union meetings about how much self-agrandizing was going on and the ammount of in-fighting and clicks were rediculous.

[Tarpon]

Bussing in thugs to harass legitimate protestors has consequences.

I am not sure that's it, I think it's more 'who needs them' than anything else. People know that driving up wages and benefits increases employer costs, and then they move their whole operation offshore when the costs get too high. If they don't then common sense is in much shorter supply than I think it is.

GM and Chrysler, those lavish benefit but totally unsustainable companies come to mind.

[penelopesire]

More bad news for democrats. Prepare for the democrats to dedouble their efforts to force unions down the throats of the American people and American businesses. They will take this as a sign that they have to force more people into unions.

[winodog]

I wonder what percentage of union members today in the USA are employed by the state, fed, county, etc.?

Unions for state employees are one big reason the USA is bankrupt and on the edge of collapse.

[Kieri]

I hope the US doesn’t have to learn the fast, brutal lesson of Michigan: Labor Unions Kill Jobs.

We’ve got a +$2 Billion budget hole that has to be plugged in less than 30 days. Granholm refuses to do ANYTHING — positive or negative — and hints of tax hikes are getting dropped.

So what do Oakland University (Rochester, MI) professors do? They go on strike the week classes are scheduled to begin.

[RedhairRedhair]

In 1955 more than 35% of all employees on private payroll were union. Today the total workforce on belonging to unions is less than 12%.

In elections where employees petition to get rid of a union - the union loses 65% of the time.

[chiefqc]

How long will it be before “Mack Daddy the Zebra” throws the unions under the bus?

Sooner or later he will come up with a way to blame them for everything.

Outcome - No longer needed, under the bus they go.

[RedhairRedhair]

Public sector union workers - 37%. Within the public sector, local government (teachers, police, fireman) the union membership rate is 42%.

Private industry union workers - 7.6%

[Sacajaweau]

My 13 year old granddaughter was learning about Unions...she learned that conditions were so bad that a fire started in a clothing factory and many women died.

She had no idea her teacher was UNION....the pay, the percs....damaging strikes...

When Unions went from conditions to MONEY and PERCS...the ballgame changed.

[Charles Martel]

No, the labor unions are too valuable to a fledgling communist state. Obama will find ways to use them, not throw them under the bus.

[mountainfolk]

Unions served a useful purpose at one time. Now they are simply, for the most part, legalized MAFIA. What have the unions built to provide jobs? They move in on already established businesses and extract dues from workers who get nothing in return that was not already available to them. Why should an American citizen have to pay a bully organization in order to get a job? I have never understood why unions were allowed to take over our government and education jobs. Tax paid employment should be free from coercion by any source. Unions played a prominent and leading role in the election of the current socialist democrat administration and their leaders will continue to have a significant influence over administration policies.

[TruthConquers]

Biting off an old man’s finger doesn’t help, either.

Thugs.

[FrankR]

Unions are no more than pockets of socialism - organizations based on equality, with the exception of the high paid union leaders, of course.

If you want your work ethic to mean nothing, and are looking for a road to mediocrity, then by all means, join a union. They'll take your dues, and they'll fight for your raises...but the same for everybody. It doesn't matter if that goldbricker who works there does nothing, and you work your butt off...he gets the same money and the same raises and perks you get. Wah-la...socialism...coming soon to a country near you.

[Frantzie]

Unions helped elect the Islamist and also destroyed GM and Chrysler. They are also bankrupting states and cities.

[DGHoodini]

About time too! The unions are all run by organized crime and Leftist subversives. Complete with goon squads. But they exposed themseles for what they really are with this Crad Check power move, to be able to intimidate and attack not only employers, but their own rank and file.

[M Kehoe]

Wow, I can't imagine the opinion of labor unions going any lower than what they already are. Kinda like congress, how can you go past zero?

5.56mm

[chiefqc]

Until they become a cause of trouble with their demands, thug acts or riots caused by their tactics - under the bus they go as he is NEVER to be the blame for ANYTHING.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

  a slight majority now say unions hurt the nation's economy. More broadly, fewer than half of Americans -- 48%, an all-time low -- approve of labor unions, down from 59% a year ago.

  It's often said that Adam Smith was talking about businessmen colluding in his famous quote - but if you actually read it:

"People of the same trade seldom meet together even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public or some contrivance to raise prices." - Adam Smith

you see that it applies directly to unions.