Support for Unions Plunges to All Time Low

[Sinatra]

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.

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.

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

 

[WillowTree]

The American public knows this loud loud loud scream for the "public option" is coming from the unions. They, the unions simply want to shift the cost of their healthcare onto the backs of the American taxpayer. I don't like it.

 

[Modbert]

Want to know why the reason that's fallen? The Economy.

Plenty of people have lost their jobs and relied on the Unions to help save them where they couldn't. Plus, the majority of Americans would join a union if not for the fear of being fired.

LERA: Perspectives Online Companion

Workers are not dummies. They realize the risks they face if they seek to unionize. A federal commission headed by John Dunlop, the late, great former U.S. Labor Secretary and Harvard professor, found that 79 percent of Americans believe it is “very” or “somewhat likely” that “nonunion workers will get fired if they try to organize a union.”

 

[pal_of_poor]

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.

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.

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

Well, it isn't surprising. Democrats still support them, and Republicans have been trained with slogans to hate them. Union jobs are only about 7 percent of our companies now, once at around 40 percent at peak. They've used globalization to attack them, as well as general "outsourcing" (such an innocuous word for destroying American standard's of living) of jobs, another word for globalization. Numerous trade agreements continue to plauge unions, as well as America's employment picture. There is an undenyable link between unfettered globalization, and our 18 percent unemployment rate, yet no talk on the corporate media of it.

And as far as opinion, people are fraking sheep. With the whole of the corporate media attacking unions, and the idea of unions, selling them false ideas about the effects of unions, it isn't surprising that after 30 years of this on the media, the media that calls itself liberal, people have followed the corporations over the cliff, and started hating them.

But the truth is, it wasn't the unions that sold us out. It is the politicians on both sides of the aisle, who've sold out American labor, and created this rush to the bottom. They are bought and paid for by the very rich, and corporate contributions, and they do the bidding of corporate citizens, and ignore what has been happening to real American citizens. With no real opposition party, no real party with any concern for American labor (thanks Bill Clinton, for f*cking nothing), Democrats continue to erode their own support.

Even in the health care debate, with 60 democrats, they demonstrate they are not on the sides of the people, who by totals as great as 80 percent, want a public option, and good health care reform. When Democrats gain power, it's even more apparent how they are all owned by corporations, and Obama has inherited the problem of an increasingly oligarchic, plutocratic, and inequal country.

 

[Sinatra]

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.

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.

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

Well, it isn't surprising. Democrats still support them, and Republicans have been trained with slogans to hate them. Union jobs are only about 7 percent of our companies now, once at around 40 percent at peak. They've used globalization to attack them, as well as general "outsourcing" (such an innocuous word for destroying American standard's of living) of jobs, another word for globalization. Numerous trade agreements continue to plauge unions, as well as America's employment picture. There is an undenyable link between unfettered globalization, and our 18 percent unemployment rate, yet no talk on the corporate media of it.

And as far as opinion, people are fraking sheep. With the whole of the corporate media attacking unions, and the idea of unions, selling them false ideas about the effects of unions, it isn't surprising that after 30 years of this on the media, the media that calls itself liberal, people have followed the corporations over the cliff, and started hating them.

But the truth is, it wasn't the unions that sold us out. It is the politicians on both sides of the aisle, who've sold out American labor, and created this rush to the bottom. They are bought and paid for by the very rich, and corporate contributions, and they do the bidding of corporate citizens, and ignore what has been happening to real American citizens. With no real opposition party, no real party with any concern for American labor (thanks Bill Clinton, for f*cking nothing), Democrats continue to erode their own support.

Even in the health care debate, with 60 democrats, they demonstrate they are not on the sides of the people, who by totals as great as 80 percent, want a public option, and good health care reform. When Democrats gain power, it's even more apparent how they are all owned by corporations, and Obama has inherited the problem of an increasingly oligarchic, plutocratic, and inequal country.

Some valid points - but it is equally valid to point out that unions have themselves become very big business. There is no real distinction between Big Business and Unions - they are essentially one and the same.

And like some in big business, unions have become corrupted and negligent in protecting the American worker. Legacy costs of the car Big Three have near crippled the car companies - and make no mistake, the bailout of the car companies was just as much about bailing out the unions as anything. If those companies had restructured on their own, the unions might very well have disolved - and that trend would have spread throughout the country. They are an absolete model whose viability diminished with each labor law passage during the last century. Now they are a lobbying ponzi scheme based upon the backs and union dues of the workers they pretend to protect.

More Americans grow weary of the radicalism within the unions, and this most recent polling shows that....

 

[Ringel05]

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.

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.

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

Well, it isn't surprising. Democrats still support them, and Republicans have been trained with slogans to hate them. Union jobs are only about 7 percent of our companies now, once at around 40 percent at peak. They've used globalization to attack them, as well as general "outsourcing" (such an innocuous word for destroying American standard's of living) of jobs, another word for globalization. Numerous trade agreements continue to plauge unions, as well as America's employment picture. There is an undenyable link between unfettered globalization, and our 18 percent unemployment rate, yet no talk on the corporate media of it.

And as far as opinion, people are fraking sheep. With the whole of the corporate media attacking unions, and the idea of unions, selling them false ideas about the effects of unions, it isn't surprising that after 30 years of this on the media, the media that calls itself liberal, people have followed the corporations over the cliff, and started hating them.

But the truth is, it wasn't the unions that sold us out. It is the politicians on both sides of the aisle, who've sold out American labor, and created this rush to the bottom. They are bought and paid for by the very rich, and corporate contributions, and they do the bidding of corporate citizens, and ignore what has been happening to real American citizens. With no real opposition party, no real party with any concern for American labor (thanks Bill Clinton, for f*cking nothing), Democrats continue to erode their own support.

Even in the health care debate, with 60 democrats, they demonstrate they are not on the sides of the people, who by totals as great as 80 percent, want a public option, and good health care reform. When Democrats gain power, it's even more apparent how they are all owned by corporations, and Obama has inherited the problem of an increasingly oligarchic, plutocratic, and inequal country.

Some valid points - but it is equally valid to point out that unions have themselves become very big business. There is no real distinction between Big Business and Unions - they are essentially one and the same.

And like some in big business, unions have become corrupted and negligent in protecting the American worker. Legacy costs of the car Big Three have near crippled the car companies - and make no mistake, the bailout of the car companies was just as much about bailing out the unions as anything. If those companies had restructured on their own, the unions might very well have disolved - and that trend would have spread throughout the country. They are an absolete model whose viability diminished with each labor law passage during the last century. Now they are a lobbying ponzi scheme based upon the backs and union dues of the workers they pretend to protect.

More Americans grow weary of the radicalism within the unions, and this most recent polling shows that....

Union work: Where everyone gets a 30 minute break every 15 minutes.
(No I'm not dyslexic).

 

[Diuretic]

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.

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.

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

Well, it isn't surprising. Democrats still support them, and Republicans have been trained with slogans to hate them. Union jobs are only about 7 percent of our companies now, once at around 40 percent at peak. They've used globalization to attack them, as well as general "outsourcing" (such an innocuous word for destroying American standard's of living) of jobs, another word for globalization. Numerous trade agreements continue to plauge unions, as well as America's employment picture. There is an undenyable link between unfettered globalization, and our 18 percent unemployment rate, yet no talk on the corporate media of it.

And as far as opinion, people are fraking sheep. With the whole of the corporate media attacking unions, and the idea of unions, selling them false ideas about the effects of unions, it isn't surprising that after 30 years of this on the media, the media that calls itself liberal, people have followed the corporations over the cliff, and started hating them.

But the truth is, it wasn't the unions that sold us out. It is the politicians on both sides of the aisle, who've sold out American labor, and created this rush to the bottom. They are bought and paid for by the very rich, and corporate contributions, and they do the bidding of corporate citizens, and ignore what has been happening to real American citizens. With no real opposition party, no real party with any concern for American labor (thanks Bill Clinton, for f*cking nothing), Democrats continue to erode their own support.

Even in the health care debate, with 60 democrats, they demonstrate they are not on the sides of the people, who by totals as great as 80 percent, want a public option, and good health care reform. When Democrats gain power, it's even more apparent how they are all owned by corporations, and Obama has inherited the problem of an increasingly oligarchic, plutocratic, and inequal country.

Some valid points - but it is equally valid to point out that unions have themselves become very big business. There is no real distinction between Big Business and Unions - they are essentially one and the same.

And like some in big business, unions have become corrupted and negligent in protecting the American worker. Legacy costs of the car Big Three have near crippled the car companies - and make no mistake, the bailout of the car companies was just as much about bailing out the unions as anything. If those companies had restructured on their own, the unions might very well have disolved - and that trend would have spread throughout the country. They are an absolete model whose viability diminished with each labor law passage during the last century. Now they are a lobbying ponzi scheme based upon the backs and union dues of the workers they pretend to protect.

More Americans grow weary of the radicalism within the unions, and this most recent polling shows that....

In part I agree with your points. Unions in the US are without ideology, very largely. That goes back to Gompers. Unions in the US have been and still are involved in a symbiotic relationship with business and with capitalism. They support business and they support capitalism. It's against their own interests to ruin a company, that's down to other factors. Incompetent management, poor economic conditions are perhaps two of those factors, greedy unions aren't. The concept of “clawback” isn't unknown in other countries that hav collective bargaining on a company basis but in the US it has become an art form. Unions, cooperating to ensure the health of a company and therefore the jobs of its members and of course its own income stream from dues, will bargain away previous gains.

Unions in the US were probably the first to have to combat the human resources movement which was aimed at removing unions from companies (but without thugs and guns). It appears that the human resources movement has been successful, no doubt aided by reactionary propaganda machines in the mainstream media – corporate owned of course – which demonised unions. There has been corruption in the US labour movement, sadly, but there's corruption in all aspects of public life so it's not unique to unions. Unions in the US can reinvent themselves but it would take a huge effort by vested interests who are not likely to kick themselves out of good jobs to repair unionism.

The problem with US unions is radicalism yes, but more a lack of it rather than its existence.

 

[Xenophon]

Obama was out campaigning to the Unions today, and unviled yet another new 'czar' for them.

 

[Sinatra]

Well, it isn't surprising. Democrats still support them, and Republicans have been trained with slogans to hate them. Union jobs are only about 7 percent of our companies now, once at around 40 percent at peak. They've used globalization to attack them, as well as general "outsourcing" (such an innocuous word for destroying American standard's of living) of jobs, another word for globalization. Numerous trade agreements continue to plauge unions, as well as America's employment picture. There is an undenyable link between unfettered globalization, and our 18 percent unemployment rate, yet no talk on the corporate media of it.

And as far as opinion, people are fraking sheep. With the whole of the corporate media attacking unions, and the idea of unions, selling them false ideas about the effects of unions, it isn't surprising that after 30 years of this on the media, the media that calls itself liberal, people have followed the corporations over the cliff, and started hating them.

But the truth is, it wasn't the unions that sold us out. It is the politicians on both sides of the aisle, who've sold out American labor, and created this rush to the bottom. They are bought and paid for by the very rich, and corporate contributions, and they do the bidding of corporate citizens, and ignore what has been happening to real American citizens. With no real opposition party, no real party with any concern for American labor (thanks Bill Clinton, for f*cking nothing), Democrats continue to erode their own support.

Even in the health care debate, with 60 democrats, they demonstrate they are not on the sides of the people, who by totals as great as 80 percent, want a public option, and good health care reform. When Democrats gain power, it's even more apparent how they are all owned by corporations, and Obama has inherited the problem of an increasingly oligarchic, plutocratic, and inequal country.

Some valid points - but it is equally valid to point out that unions have themselves become very big business. There is no real distinction between Big Business and Unions - they are essentially one and the same.

And like some in big business, unions have become corrupted and negligent in protecting the American worker. Legacy costs of the car Big Three have near crippled the car companies - and make no mistake, the bailout of the car companies was just as much about bailing out the unions as anything. If those companies had restructured on their own, the unions might very well have disolved - and that trend would have spread throughout the country. They are an absolete model whose viability diminished with each labor law passage during the last century. Now they are a lobbying ponzi scheme based upon the backs and union dues of the workers they pretend to protect.

More Americans grow weary of the radicalism within the unions, and this most recent polling shows that....

In part I agree with your points. Unions in the US are without ideology, very largely. That goes back to Gompers. Unions in the US have been and still are involved in a symbiotic relationship with business and with capitalism. They support business and they support capitalism. It's against their own interests to ruin a company, that's down to other factors. Incompetent management, poor economic conditions are perhaps two of those factors, greedy unions aren't. The concept of “clawback” isn't unknown in other countries that hav collective bargaining on a company basis but in the US it has become an art form. Unions, cooperating to ensure the health of a company and therefore the jobs of its members and of course its own income stream from dues, will bargain away previous gains.

Unions in the US were probably the first to have to combat the human resources movement which was aimed at removing unions from companies (but without thugs and guns). It appears that the human resources movement has been successful, no doubt aided by reactionary propaganda machines in the mainstream media – corporate owned of course – which demonised unions. There has been corruption in the US labour movement, sadly, but there's corruption in all aspects of public life so it's not unique to unions. Unions in the US can reinvent themselves but it would take a huge effort by vested interests who are not likely to kick themselves out of good jobs to repair unionism.

The problem with US unions is radicalism yes, but more a lack of it rather than its existence.

Not sure what radicalism you are referencing - the destruction of capitalism?

If so, I disagree with you entirely - you are simply being silly.

Unions are radicalized today - spending money to push social agendas as much as actual worker issues. The mainstream union body funds more radical branches, and the entire entity is one big nasty mess these days.

There is a forceful anti-liberal backlash brewing right now - and unions are going to suffer from that backlash - the poll indicates they already are...

 

[Darkwind]

Obama was out campaigning to the Unions today, and unviled yet another new 'czar' for them.

Would that be the knee-cap czar?

 

[Xenophon]

Obama was out campaigning to the Unions today, and unviled yet another new 'czar' for them.

Would that be the knee-cap czar?

'Industrial czar'

This genius will now make it possible for the workers of the American world to unite in a worker's paradise where the USA will produce all kinds of goods that people will be thrilled to over pay for.

If they money or jobs to buy anything that is.

 

[Sinatra]

Obama was out campaigning to the Unions today, and unviled yet another new 'czar' for them.

Would that be the knee-cap czar?

'Industrial czar'

This genius will now make it possible for the workers of the American world to unite in a worker's paradise where the USA will produce all kinds of goods that people will be thrilled to over pay for.

If they money or jobs to buy anything that is.

The audience response to the "Industrial Czar" announcement was laughably tepid. Even the union folks were thinking "WTF" on that one.

Well done there Obama...

 

[Darkwind]

Obama was out campaigning to the Unions today, and unviled yet another new 'czar' for them.

Would that be the knee-cap czar?

'Industrial czar'

This genius will now make it possible for the workers of the American world to unite in a worker's paradise where the USA will produce all kinds of goods that people will be thrilled to over pay for.

If they money or jobs to buy anything that is.

Ah...I suppose that he/she will be in favor of that new legislation? What is it called? Open card or something like that.

 

[Sinatra]

Would that be the knee-cap czar?

'Industrial czar'

This genius will now make it possible for the workers of the American world to unite in a worker's paradise where the USA will produce all kinds of goods that people will be thrilled to over pay for.

If they money or jobs to buy anything that is.

Ah...I suppose that he/she will be in favor of that new legislation? What is it called? Open card or something like that.

Polling indicates the public strongly opposed to that pro-union attempt.

If the Dems attempt to forward that at this time, they will pay a very heavy political price for it...

 

[Xenophon]

Ah...I suppose that he/she will be in favor of that new legislation? What is it called? Open card or something like that.

I only saw a few minutes of the speech, which is all I can take of that huckster these days.

He was in full campaign mode, no jacket or tie, 'man of the people' pushing his health care come hell or high water, and giving the Union crowd what they want, a leader to take them out of the wilderness.

The man is more tone deaf to the mood of the nation then Bush ever was, he belives all he has to do is go back on the campaign trail and all will be rosey again.

 

[Sinatra]

Ah...I suppose that he/she will be in favor of that new legislation? What is it called? Open card or something like that.

I only saw a few minutes of the speech, which is all I can take of that huckster these days.

He was in full campaign mode, no jacket or tie, 'man of the people' pushing his health care come hell or high water, and giving the Union crowd what they want, a leader to take them out of the wilderness.

The man is more tone deaf to the mood of the nation then Bush ever was, he belives all he has to do is go back on the campaign trail and all will be rosey again.

Did you notice his blue collar shirt??

Oh these silly Democrats...

 

[Darkwind]

Ah...I suppose that he/she will be in favor of that new legislation? What is it called? Open card or something like that.

I only saw a few minutes of the speech, which is all I can take of that huckster these days.

He was in full campaign mode, no jacket or tie, 'man of the people' pushing his health care come hell or high water, and giving the Union crowd what they want, a leader to take them out of the wilderness.

The man is more tone deaf to the mood of the nation then Bush ever was, he belives all he has to do is go back on the campaign trail and all will be rosey again.

I agree.

The problem is, very few are calling him on it.

 

[Xenophon]

Ah...I suppose that he/she will be in favor of that new legislation? What is it called? Open card or something like that.

I only saw a few minutes of the speech, which is all I can take of that huckster these days.

He was in full campaign mode, no jacket or tie, 'man of the people' pushing his health care come hell or high water, and giving the Union crowd what they want, a leader to take them out of the wilderness.

The man is more tone deaf to the mood of the nation then Bush ever was, he belives all he has to do is go back on the campaign trail and all will be rosey again.

Did you notice his blue collar shirt??

Oh these silly Democrats...

I forgot to mention that subtle bit of propaganda.

 

[Xenophon]

Ah...I suppose that he/she will be in favor of that new legislation? What is it called? Open card or something like that.

I only saw a few minutes of the speech, which is all I can take of that huckster these days.

He was in full campaign mode, no jacket or tie, 'man of the people' pushing his health care come hell or high water, and giving the Union crowd what they want, a leader to take them out of the wilderness.

The man is more tone deaf to the mood of the nation then Bush ever was, he belives all he has to do is go back on the campaign trail and all will be rosey again.

I agree.

The problem is, very few are calling him on it.

His support among independants has dropped considerably, and they are who won him the election, so enough people are noticing.

The speech today was pablum for the base, there was a whole lot of leg shaking going on in that crowd.

 

[Fatality]

i have no tears for unionists, buch of lazy good for nothing assholes who make more than the job is worth and do nothing but run comapnies out of business. weep for the $75 an hour GM worker, lolz..fuck them i hope they all lose their fucking jobs