Labor Unions

Have you heard of state laws called right-to-work or "open shop" laws?

	Yes, heard of	No, not heard of	No opinion
	%	%	%
2014 Aug 7-10	55	45	1
1957 Jul 18-23	66	32	2
Gallup

Some states have passed right-to-work or open shop laws that say each worker has the right to hold his job in a company, no matter whether he joins a labor union, or not. If you were asked to vote on such a law, would you vote for it, or against it?

	Vote for	Vote against	No opinion
	%	%	%
2014 Aug 7-10	71	22	7
1957 Jul 18-23	62	27	11
Gallup

Those in favor of right-to-work or open shop laws say that no American should be required to join any private organization, like a labor union, against his will. Do you agree or disagree with this?

	Agree	Disagree	No opinion
	%	%	%
2014 Aug 7-10 ^	82	15	3
1957 Jul 18-23	73	18	9
^ Asked of a half sample
Gallup

Those opposed to right-to-work or open shop laws say that when all workers share the gains won by the labor union, all workers should have to join and pay dues to give the union financial support. Do you agree or disagree with this?

	Agree	Disagree	No opinion
	%	%	%
2014 Aug 7-10 ^	32	64	5
1957 Jul 18-23	44	41	14
^ Asked of a half sample
Gallup

As I read off each of the following, please tell me whether you think it has too much power, about the right amount of power or not enough power. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

	Too much	About right	Not enough	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
Lobbyists	71	13	8	8
Major corporations	67	21	9	3
Banks and financial institutions	67	23	8	2
The federal government in Washington	58	30	9	3
Labor unions	43	28	24	4
The government in your state	34	49	15	2
The courts, legal system and judges	34	49	14	3
Organized religion and churches	25	46	24	4
The municipal or local government where you live	22	53	21	3
The military	14	53	28	4
2011 Mar 25-27
Gallup

What word or phrase comes to mind when you think of labor unions? [OPEN-ENDED]

	2011 Mar 3-6
	%
Good/Great	10
No longer needed/Unnecessary	6
For them/Approve/In favor	6
Needed/Necessary	6
Dislike	4
Against/Not for	4
Bad/Unfair	4
Powerful	3
Worker's rights	3
Crooks/Thieves	3
Corrupt	2
Protection	2
OK/Fair	2
Greedy	2
Outdated	1
Strikes	1
Collective bargaining	1
Helpful	1
Positive	1
Negative	1
Controlling	1
Evil	1
Get rid of/Disband	1
Other	23
No opinion	12
Gallup

Thinking now about state government efforts to balance their budgets, please say whether you would favor or oppose taking each of the following steps to help balance your state's budget. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
	%	%	%
Reducing or eliminating certain state programs	65	32	3
Reducing the number of workers on the state payroll	62	35	3
Changing state laws to limit the bargaining power of state employee unions	49	45	6
Reducing state worker pay and benefits	43	54	4
Raising state taxes on businesses	39	58	2
Raising state income or sales taxes	33	66	1
Borrowing more money by issuing bonds	30	66	3
2011 Mar 3-6
Gallup

As you may know, one way the legislature in Wisconsin is seeking to reduce its budget deficit is by passing a bill that would take away some of the collective bargaining rights of most public unions, including the state teachers' union. Would you favor or oppose such a bill in your state?

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
	%	%	%
2011 Feb 21	33	61	6
Asked on Gallup Daily tracking survey
Gallup

In states in which government workers belong to unions, do you think those unions are generally more helpful or more harmful to those states?

	More helpful	More harmful	No opinion
	%	%	%
2011 Feb 21	45	46	9
Asked on Gallup Daily tracking survey
Gallup

In the labor disputes of the last two or three years, have your sympathies, in general been -- [ROTATED: on the side of unions (or) on the side of the companies]?

	Unions	Companies	Neither (vol.)	Both (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2005 Aug 28-30	52	34	6	3	5
2002 Aug 5-8	44	36	5	5	10
2001 Aug 16-19	45	37	4	5	9
1999 Aug 24-26	45	37	5	6	7
1952 Oct 17-22	42	29	--	3	26
1952 Oct 3-8	45	29	--	4	23
1952 Sep 28-Oct 2	42	33	--	1	23
1952 Sep 20-25	40	34	--	1	25
1952 Jul 25-30	47	36	--	--	17
(vol.)=volunteered response
Gallup

Labor Unions

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