On Labor Day, support for unions plunges to all-time low

[ArmyMAJretired]

I'm sure the footage of SEIU at town halls as well as the auto industry demise have soured many on unions.

Also explains why they desperately want the Card Check bill to pass. Most people don't like them or want them.

On Labor Day, support for unions plunges to all-time low
By: Byron York
Chief Political Correspondent
09/07/09 8:42 AM EDT
This Labor Day brings word of a new Gallup poll showing that American public support for labor unions has taken a sharp dive in the last year and is at its lowest point since Gallup began polling in 1936.

In response to the question, "Do you approve or disapprove of labor unions?" just 48 percent of respondents said they approve, while 45 percent said they disapprove. That's a steep fall from August 2008, when the numbers were 59 percent approve, 31 percent disapprove, and it's the first time approval of unions has ever fallen below 50 percent.

Before this year, American support for unions had remained remarkably stable for nearly four decades. In August 2001, in the first months of George W. Bush's presidency, Gallup's results for the same question were 60 percent approve, 32 percent disapprove. In August 1997, in Bill Clinton's second term, they were 60-31. In 1985, during Ronald Reagan's presidency, the figures were 58-27. In 1978, during Jimmy Carter's time in the White House, they were 59-31. And in 1972, during Richard Nixon's, they were 60-27.

The new poll also shows that many Americans believe the future is bleak for unions. In response to the question, "Thinking about the future, do you think labor unions in this country will become stronger than they are today, the same as today, or weaker than they are today?" 48 percent said unions will become weaker, versus just 24 percent who said unions will become stronger.

Broken down by political party, Gallup found support for unions has fallen the most among critically-important independent voters. Last year, 63 percent of independents said they approved of unions. Now, just 44 percent say the same thing. Among Republicans, 29 percent support unions, versus 38 percent last year. Only among Democrats does union support remain strong, although it, too, has fallen: 66 percent support today, versus 72 percent support a year ago.

The numbers do not bode well for Democrats' desire to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, or card-check, which would eliminate the right to a secret ballot in union elections, or even a weaker version of the bill, which would provide for mandatory arbitration in unionization battles. This Labor Day, for organized labor, the news is very bad.


http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/On-Labor-Day-support-for-unions-plunges-to-all-time-low-57645827.html

[camarozz]

I work for a union; well actually forced to join...

Don't normally agree with union stance, but once in a while I can see their usefulness. If there was another well paying job available here, I would not be working at this job.

[mysticbeauty_nbeast]

I'm not well versed in the 'card check' legislation to really understand why anyone would want it implemented in the first place. On it's face, to have open ballots instead of private/secret ballots would appear to have only one service/affect...to know who voted and how...which could then be used to apply pressure on that person(s) to change their vote. Isn't that illegal on it's face? Isn't that totally against our democratic foundations?

I thought Unions were in place to protect the American worker...not the Union bosses themselves?

One of the comments on the site you listed said it best. In this modern day and age, we don't need Unions. Our federal laws and State laws more then protect our workers. So why do we need Unions anymore? :eh:

~Mysty

[camarozz]

I'm not well versed in the 'card check' legislation to really understand why anyone would want it implemented in the first place. On it's face, to have open ballots instead of private/secret ballots would appear to have only one service/affect...to know who voted and how...which could then be used to apply pressure on that person(s) to change their vote. Isn't that illegal on it's face? Isn't that totally against our democratic foundations?

I thought Unions were in place to protect the American worker...not the Union bosses themselves?

One of the comments on the site you listed said it best. In this modern day and age, we don't need Unions. Our federal laws and State laws more then protect our workers. So why do we need Unions anymore? :eh:

~Mysty

If I understand my coworkers correctly, it is to protect us from unruly management; but I also see it as the management is unruly because of the union.

[Forever-27]

Unions are destroting America of the largest industries in the US have been brought to their knees because of the Unions.
Exibit A--The Airlines.
Exibit B--The school system. Where now on par with mexico and other 3rd world nations for math attainment.
Exhibit C--Auto industry. Need I say more. No, but I will.

Unions protect the lazy man.


Unions were once very useful
but now Unions are more interested in preserving Unions jobs above everything else. Efficiency is out the window.

If a Union can make it so that you need 3 people to screw in a lightbulb, they will do so.

BART the subway system here for example has two union workers to wash the same window here at its mass transit stations , one person to wash the one side of the window and one to wash the other side of the window by union rules. In San Francisco, the Union representing the bus drivers made it so that bus drivers could pull a no-show without having to call in sick or notify their bosses ( No Call No Show ) . They simply wouldn't show up to work....and this was ALLOWED. How the heck can you run a business if your employeees are empowered to play hooky and not even tell you?
http://www.findadeath.com/forum/images/misc/progress.gif

[JediMindTrick]

I was very anti union in high school and college. Then I joined the workforce and discovered first hand how willing employers are to bend their employees over and do bad things to them. I've now come full circle and am a union member by choice.

With unions its a matter a balance. If they become too powerful they will end up no different than the corporations they were trying to fight against: completely corrupt. But they are a needed tool to stop those same corporations from screwing their employees.

[WhiteHatBobby]

It seems a major work stoppage in sports has taken place the last two times we have had a change in party control of Congress. The MLBPA strike (which killed ABC's primetime schedule that season) and the NHL Lockout resulted both in subsequent changes to the balance of power in Congress.

[ArmyMAJretired]

I was very anti union in high school and college. Then I joined the workforce and discovered first hand how willing employers are to bend their employees over and do bad things to them. I've now come full circle and am a union member by choice.

With unions its a matter a balance. If they become too powerful they will end up no different than the corporations they were trying to fight against: completely corrupt. But they are a needed tool to stop those same corporations from screwing their employees.

See that's what I don't get. It is not your job, it is the company's. If you don't like the way you are treated, FIRE THE COMPANY. Walk away, no one is forcing you to work there. Find a better company. Better yet start your ouw and have them unionize on you.

JMHO

[JediMindTrick]

See that's what I don't get. It is not your job, it is the company's. If you don't like the way you are treated, FIRE THE COMPANY. Walk away, no one is forcing you to work there. Find a better company. Better yet start your ouw and have them unionize on you.

JMHO

Are you saying I should just be unemployed and be on welfare? EVERY company, nearly without exception, would treat their employees like slave labor if they could in order to maximize profit - you need look no further than how many go overseas where they can hire employees they can treat like slave labor. While they can't get away with that here, except for farmers who are allowed to treat to their migrant workers that way, it doesn't change the fact that no matter who you work for in this country they are going to always going to be treating their employees like crap unless the employees use unions or threat of legal action to stop them. The only employers who avoid this kind of trap are the very small businesses with hands on owners. But once they reach a certain size the employee becomes a disposable commodity, especially in todays job market.

[ArmyMAJretired]

Are you saying I should just be unemployed and be on welfare? EVERY company, nearly without exception, would treat their employees like slave labor if they could in order to maximize profit - you need look no further than how many go overseas where they can hire employees they can treat like slave labor. While they can't get away with that here, except for farmers who are allowed to treat to their migrant workers that way, it doesn't change the fact that no matter who you work for in this country they are going to always going to be treating their employees like crap unless the employees use unions or threat of legal action to stop them. The only employers who avoid this kind of trap are the very small businesses with hands on owners. But once they reach a certain size the employee becomes a disposable commodity, especially in todays job market.

Wow, interesting pespective. I have worked for jerk employers and even had my position eliminated.

I have been with my current company going on 8 years and we treat the employees VERY well. I jumped ship from my last company once it was acquired and I read the writing on the wall. I was right, 6 moths later they elimnated my department and a year later moved the business to Iowa.

No, don't just quit, the best time to find a job is when you have a job. Life is too short to work for a company or boss you don't respect or like.

Based on my work history both in and out of the military only about 10% of companies/bosses are bad. Bad/worthless employees run about the same 10% They take up 80% of the bosses time!

JMHO

[JediMindTrick]

Wow, interesting pespective. I have worked for jerk employers and even had my position eliminated.

I have been with my current company going on 8 years and we treat the employees VERY well. I jumped ship from my last company once it was acquired and I read the writing on the wall. I was right, 6 moths later they elimnated my department and a year later moved the business to Iowa.

No, don't just quit, the best time to find a job is when you have a job. Life is too short to work for a company or boss you don't respect or like.

Based on my work history both in and out of the military only about 10% of companies/bosses are bad. Bad/worthless employees run about the same 10% They take up 80% of the bosses time!

JMHO

If not for unions though your company would have you working 12 hrs a day, six days a week, for half of what minimum wage is now. All the basic labor laws that exist nowadays came to be because of unions pushing for them to be passed. So unions have even benefitted employees who have never been part of a union. And again I don't dispute at all that unions can become too powerful and that they can become corrupt.

[ArmyMAJretired]

If not for unions though your company would have you working 12 hrs a day, six days a week, for half of what minimum wage is now. All the basic labor laws that exist nowadays came to be because of unions pushing for them to be passed. So unions have even benefitted employees who have never been part of a union. And again I don't dispute at all that unions can become too powerful and that they can become corrupt.

The horse and buggy had their time and they are no longer needed. Now thanks to the labor laws you cite, neither are unions.

Yes they did good in their day but now they ruin entire industries. JMHO

Is the state of education in this country any better because if Teacher's unions?

[Long Island Bob]

Labor day should be moved to Aug 14 because that is the single most important date in the history of the struggle for workers' rights.

It was on Aug 14 1980 that Lech Walesa climbed the gates at the Gdansk shipyard and gave his rousings peech to the assembled strikers.

that as the day the struggling oppressed workers finally began to throw off the yoke of exploitation.

that was the day the Berlin wall began to crumble.

[JediMindTrick]

The horse and buggy had their time and they are no longer needed. Now thanks to the labor laws you cite, neither are unions.

Yes they did good in their day but now they ruin entire industries. JMHO

Is the state of education in this country any better because if Teacher's unions?

Without unions the pendulum would swing quickly and completely to the side of the companies and we would be back to draconian 19th century working conditions. Companies have all the money and all the lobbying power and it wouldn't take long for them to grease the pockets of the politicians to repeal many of the hard fought for labor laws.

There needs to be a balance between companies having the power and unions having the power. Too much on either side is a bad thing. What your advocating is that companies get all the power and that they will on good faith maintain things the way they are. These are the same companies who gleefully employ child labor for pennies a day in third world countries.

[jimjames418]

Without unions the pendulum would swing quickly and completely to the side of the companies and we would be back to draconian 19th century working conditions. Companies have all the money and all the lobbying power and it wouldn't take long for them to grease the pockets of the politicians to repeal many of the hard fought for labor laws.

There needs to be a balance between companies having the power and unions having the power. Too much on either side is a bad thing. What your advocating is that companies get all the power and that they will on good faith maintain things the way they are. These are the same companies who gleefully employ child labor for pennies a day in third world countries.
When a union works with management for the good of the worker and the company, it is a good thing. The problem is that most unions today work only for the good of the worker and to hell with the company.

I lost a plant back in the 1970's due to such thinking. We had 300 employees and the pay was twice the minimum wage at the time. The union (UAW) was voted in and demanded an increase of over $5 an hour. No way could the company pay that and remain competative.

Long story short, the union called a strike. The company announced that the plant would be shut down, the union said no way would we shut the plant because we were making too much money. There were even union wokers outside the gate when the trucks came to haul away the equipment. Heck, there were even workers there after the "For Sale" sign went up.

[ArmyMAJretired]

When a union works with management for the good of the worker and the company, it is a good thing. The problem is that most unions today work only for the good of the worker and to hell with the company.

I lost a plant back in the 1970's due to such thinking. We had 300 employees and the pay was twice the minimum wage at the time. The union (UAW) was voted in and demanded an increase of over $5 an hour. No way could the company pay that and remain competative.

Long story short, the union called a strike. The company announced that the plant would be shut down, the union said no way would we shut the plant because we were making too much money. There were even union wokers outside the gate when the trucks came to haul away the equipment. Heck, there were even workers there after the "For Sale" sign went up.

That showed them. Bet the Air Traffic Controllers and Eastern Airline employees felt satisfied too!

[jimjames418]

That showed them. Bet the Air Traffic Controllers and Eastern Airline employees felt satisfied too!
Well I took my $3 million dollars and bought bank CD's. Made more in interest from that than I was getting from the plant.

The trouble with most union workers is they don't realize that the people who invest money in tools and equipment to provide them with jobs need to make a return on their investment, else why risk their money.