Poll: Americans Remain Broadly Supportive Of Labor Unions

Americans remain broadly supportive of labor unions, as they have been over the past seven decades, including a 59% approval rating for unions in Gallup's most recent update from August.

Organized labor unions played an important part in helping Democrat Barack Obama get elected president this year, by providing financial support and manpower for the campaign. Labor leaders now hope that the new administration and Congress will pass legislation favorable to their cause, including steps to make it easier for company workforces to unionize.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[itmaybetoolate]

What?! In this center-right country? Not possible! Just ask a repug, he'll tell you.

[sonoffestus]

A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link. Unions strenghten the chain of our Union.

[stardot]

We need to do all we can to support our own businesses and BUY AMERICAN as well as support the union workers and above all, the companies that hire union workers!


http://www.buyamerican.com/

[onenation]

The middle class was built on the backs of old union organizers. That was the first absolute public takeover of government. The public only has power as a group - UNIONS. The United Mine Workers did not organize for anything but safety (litteral) and some job security.
The fall of the Berlin wall, the reality of Poland blocked the distruction of EPA. The big cry for the auto company bankruptcy has focused the the puiblic on the issue: "they (the corp talking heads and Republicans) are trying to BUST THE UNIONS".

[stardot]

That big ol" building was the textile mill that fed our kids and it paid our bills
But they turned us out and they closed the doors
We can"t make it here anymore
See those pallets piled up on the loading dock
They"re just gonna sit there "til they rot
"Cause there"s nothing to ship, nothing to pack
Just busted concrete and rusted tracks
Empty storefronts around the square
There"s a needle in the gutter and glass everywhere
You don"t come down here unless you"re looking to score
We can"t make it here anymore

The bar"s still open but man it"s slow
The tip jar"s light and the register"s low
The bartender don"t have much to say
The regular crowd gets thinner each day
Some have maxed out all their credit cards
Some are working two jobs and living in cars
Minimum wage won"t pay for a roof, won"t pay for a drink
If you gotta have proof just try it yourself Mr. CEO
See how far $5.15 an hour will go
Take a part time job at one your stores
Bet you can"t make it here anymore
Now I"m stocking shirts in the Wal-Mart store
Just like the ones we made before
" Cept this one came from Singapore
I guess we can"t make it here anymore

www.jamesmcmurtry.com

[Alternate Reality]

It it wasn't for labor unions, no one else would have a job. Only unions have enough money to buy anything and thus employ all us little people in their service. I hope unions get a lot more money in their christmas stockings so I can continue to flip burgers and work that second job as a night watchman.

[drkazmd65]

I have never been a member of a Labor Union,... and at this stage of my (professional) career I will likely never be a member,...

But damn - we need a functional Labor Union movement again in this country. Another case where the 'rising tide raises all ships' to my mind.

A person used to be able to get a decent job, get job training, and get job security & benefits without having to get multiple college degrees OR be part of the old boy network. We need that again.

[Chavez08]

The koolaid is still strong amongst (college "science" degreed though categorically uneducated) white-collar workers.

[SPQR1052]

And this is a surprise because?

_____________________________________________________
[e-mail]
Amer- I CAN
SPQR "Senatus Populusque Romanus" The Senate and the People (Romans)
_____________________________________________________

[Bec01]

Heck, maybe these companies should start outsourcing the CEO and executive jobs to other countries too.

[clearmindedman]

Does it change the fact that Ford's most advanced new plant is now in Brazil because they cannot afford to pay $80 an hour to American factory workers that would be paid much less in any other factory job? Much much less?

Oil is collapsing again today, giving the auto makers a chance to thrive. From $150 a barrel to $47 almost overnight.

http://theliepOlitic.com/2008/12/oil-nations-face-economic-destruction/

[Bec01]

What union worker makes $80 an hour? That is a bogus amount. Why is it that people are so quick to point out the amount the middle class is making and not the CEO'S? I just don't get the mentality.

[niesioa]

I think the point is that U.S. automakers can not continue to pay outrageous salaries and produce cars profitably in the U.S.

Take-home wages at the U.S. car makers average $28.42 an hour, according to the Center for Automotive Research. That's on par with $26 at Toyota, $24 at Honda and $21 at Hyundai. But include benefits, and the picture changes. Hourly labor costs are $44.20 on average for the non-Detroit producers, in line with most manufacturing jobs, but are $73.21 for Detroit.

This $29 cost gap reflects the way Big Three management and unions have conspired to make themselves uncompetitive -- increasingly so as their market share has collapsed.

[ceasenake]

I hope ALL Americans support the unions because soon they'll be paying them with tax dollars!

[mec57]

I get why this is being posted...so that the UAW can go on reaping windfall for its members in the face of what should be a sharp trimming of excessive benefits autoworkers get as well as the slicing of CEO salaries and the retooling of factories to build cars Americans need...fuel efficient, hybrid and electric vehicles.

[nomoredead]

Let's go after Wall Street for ' reaping a windfall '

[000Jade000]

If you haven't signed the petition in support of the EFCA yet, take the time to do it and pass it on to contacts:

http://www.freechoiceact.org/page/s/aflcio?source=aflcioweb

[Excitedforfuture]

Done!

[nomoredead]

Thanks. Done.

[drkazmd65]

Done as well.

[darthdarcy]

That's because Americans are loyal to each other and our nation as well...it's our leaders that are treacherous treasonous swine usurpers...!