Unions still rated negatively

September 1 2005 - Labor unions are still rated negatively by most American adults, according to a recent Harris poll. But the US public also rated corporate America similarly, although less negatively. Americans give credit to labor unions for improving wages and working conditions for workers but they are viewed unfavorably for having too much involvement in politics and too much concern with fighting change. These attitudes are very similar to those found in a Harris Poll conducted in 1993.

A Harris Poll of 1,217 U.S. adults surveyed by telephone by Harris Interactive(R) between August 9 and 16, 2005 found that negative ratings of the job being done by labor unions were given by majorities of:

• all U.S. adults (68 per cent)
• all working adults (69 per cent), and even
• adults in union households (61 per cent)

However, 61 per cent also rated Corporate America negatively, compared with 54 per cent in 1993.

More positively, respondents (particularly those in union households) gave unions credit for:

• Improve wages and working conditions - 75 per cent of all adults and 84 per cent of those in union households
• Working to get legislation that helped all working people whether they were union members or not - 50 per cent of adults and 58 per cent of those in union households

But other significant criticisms included:

• Two-thirds (67 per cent of all adults felt that unions were too involved in politics. 65 per cent of those in union households agreed.
• 60 per cent of respondents (and also 60 per cent of those in union households) felt that unions were more concerned with fighting change than with trying to bring about change.
• Over a half (55 per cent) of adults said that unions stifled individual initiative, a slight decrease from 1993 when 59 per cent agreed. Even in union households, almost half (47 percent) agreed, compared with 51 per cent in 1993.

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