Poll (Pew): Support For Labor Unions Remains At Near-Historic Low

[FBaggins]

While protests continue to rage in Wisconsin over a proposal to drastically roll back public employee union's rights, a new Pew poll finds that less than half of all Americans have a favorable opinion of unions. In fact, their support is hovering near an all time low. Only 45% of respondents in the poll said they viewed unions favorably, while nearly as many, 41%, said they had an unfavorable opinion of unions. And while the poll was conducted before demonstrators took to the streets in Wisconsin, it underscores the tenuous position in which unions currently find themselves.

Last week, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) proposed plugging a budget shortfall by rolling back the collective bargaining power of the state's unions. The proposed changes would eliminate the ability for most public sector unions to negotiate for better heath and pension plans, though they could still negotiate on salary.

Also troubling for those demonstrating in Wisconsin, a Pew poll released last week found that among a slate of potential state level cuts, rolling back public workers' benefits was the most popular option. Though respondents were evenly split at 47% over whether or not that was a good decision, they gave a clear thumbs down to every other proposal. Two-thirds opposed cutting funds for transit programs and state universities, while nearly eight in ten opposed cuts to health and public school spending.

According to the latest poll, most Americans think unions have helped to increase unionized employees' salary (53%) and to improve working conditions for all Americans (51%). The sticking point, however, is that Americans think unions are just plain awful for business. A plurality of respondents said they think unions reduce the number of good jobs in the country and harm America's competitiveness in a global economy.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/support-for-labor-unions-remains-at-near-historic-low.php#

Pew had this number at 58% as recently as 2007. The attack on unions is clearly working.

The original Pew report is here: http://people-press.org/report/?pageid=1908

[WhollyHeretic]

1. Willfully ignorant jackasses

[FBaggins]

2. Probably true...

...but true or not, that's hardly a way to win their votes.

[WhollyHeretic]

10. I didn't realize I was trying to win anyone's vote when commenting on a post on DU

:eyes:

[FBaggins]

15. Of course you don't... but it still can cause problems.

Why do you think trolls come here and make ridiculously offensive remarks pretending to be progressives? So that when others look at DU and assume that's indicative of Democratic views... it makes us look bad.

There were a couple posters at the WI rally yesterday that showed the governor with cross-hairs over his face. That could be a misguided protester who is expressing her outrage with a little hyperbole... or it could be a right-wing plant trying to make the crowd look extreme. Either way, it got on TV and the impression is out there that the same people who complained about incivility in the wake of the Giffords shooting are guilty of the same kind of thing themselves.

"Let it out and vent... we're among friends" only works if DU adds a members-only portion of the forums.

[WhollyHeretic]

16. Making a comment on DU about a nebulous group of people being jackasses is the same as threatening

violence? That's some interesting logic you have here.

You really have no grasp about how message boards work or your actual importance to the greater world while you're posting on one. No matter what you may think you will never see this headline on the New York Times

MEMBER OF DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND CALLS PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE UNIONS "IGNORANT JACKASSES"

Riots erupt nationwide. Democratic headquarters in several cities burned to the ground. Is this the end of the Democratic Party?

or this

PICTURES OF CATS WITH MISSPELLED CAPTIONS FOUND ON WEBSITE

Dubious hilarity ensued

[sasha031]

3. the media has been consistent in their demonizing of labor for over 30yrs

[tabbycat31]

4. Unions need to educate the public

[tyne]

5. Time to reframe this argument...

I remember way back during the occupation of Iraq....remember what type of government denies its citizens the right to organize? Saddam! And all of the other dictactors FFS. Let's start talking about this in a firm way!!!

Saddam's Labor Laws Live On
By David Bacon, December 2003 Issue
Most Iraqi workers hoped the fall of Saddam Hussein would liberate them, enabling them to recover their lost rights. Chief among them was the right to an independent union. In 1987, the regime of Saddam Hussein reclassified most Iraqi workers--those who labored in the huge state enterprises that are the heart of the country's economy--as civil servants. As such, they were prohibited from forming unions and bargaining.

The occupation, however, didn't lift this decree. It is still in force, as privatization looms like a sword of Damocles over those workers and the factories on which they depend for survival. And while keeping in place the ban on unions, the occupation authorities have kept wages low and unemployment high.

For Iraqi workers, the signal could not be clearer: The overthrow of Saddam did not bring liberation.

More...
http://www.progressive.org/dec03/bac1203.html

[OHdem10]

6. Is the pool of participants more Republican than Democrat???

[FBaggins]

7. No... in fact just the opposite.

Republicans were the smallest of the three groups.

R 339
D 455
I 511

[veganlush]

14. I believe that

the swelling of the ranks of those who call themselves "independent" is due to the fact that many people who had always called themselves "republican" are just embarrassed to do so now with the likes of McCain, Palin, Bachmann, Angle, etc..being thrust into the limelight in recent years.

[dkofos]

8. Propaganda is much easier for the mindless masses to consume.

[sufrommich]

9. Calling people "mindless masses" doesn't help. nt

[dkofos]

11. " Willfully ignorant jackasses" was already taken.

Do you have any other suggestion??

[glinda]

12. Intended to turn those in middle class against each other. Divide and conquer.

[dkofos]

13. It worked for the Germans.

[upi402]

17. Blame the media

traitorous IMHO