Natalie Gonnella
As pro-labor protests continue throughout the country in the wake of the collective bargaining dipute in Wisconsin, Gallup reveals that Americans' approval of unions may be dwindling.
In their latest analysis examining voters' opinions of labor organizations, Gallup notes that:
Americans are slightly more likely to say something negative rather than positive when asked what word or phrase comes to mind when they think of "labor unions." By about a 3-to-1 ratio, Republicans have negative rather than positive things to say about labor unions. By better than 2 to 1, Democrats' impressions of unions are more positive than negative.
When comparing the latest results to previous polls, Gallup also reveals that:
Americans' responses to the question reveal a less positive picture of labor unions' image than Gallup found last summer on the standard labor union approval question asked since the 1930s. In August 2010, 52% of Americans said they approved of unions, while 41% said they disapproved. Although more positive than negative, this was the second-lowest union approval rating in Gallup's history, behind only the 48% in 2009.
With a number of states weighing budget reform proposals and protests likely to continue in the coming weeks, voters' opinions of both labor unions and governors will definitely be interesting trends to watch.
The full results of Gallup's latest analysis can be viewed here.
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