Coalition for a Democratic Workplace: National Survey Findings

By:By:John McLaughlinJohn McLaughlin

January 2009January 2009

On the webOn the webwww.mclaughlinonline.comwww.mclaughlinonline.com

Coalition for a Coalition for a Democratic Workplace:Democratic Workplace:

National Survey FindingsNational Survey Findings

NationalJanuary 2009

McLaughlin & Associateswww.mclaughlinonline.com

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Presentation Outline

1. Methodology2. Major Findings3. Secret Ballots vs. Card Signing



3

Methodology:Methodology:

This poll of 1,000 likely general election voters in the United This poll of 1,000 likely general election voters in the United States was conducted between January 7-11, 2009. An States was conducted between January 7-11, 2009. An

oversample of 193 union households was conducted, which oversample of 193 union households was conducted, which brings the combined total of union households to 400. All brings the combined total of union households to 400. All interviews were conducted via telephone by professional interviews were conducted via telephone by professional

interviewers. Interview selection was random within interviewers. Interview selection was random within predetermined election units – in this case, the fifty states. These predetermined election units – in this case, the fifty states. These units were structured to correlate with actual voter turnout in a units were structured to correlate with actual voter turnout in a

general election.general election.

This poll of 1,000 likely general election voters has an accuracy This poll of 1,000 likely general election voters has an accuracy of +/- 3.1% at a 95% confidence interval. The 400 sample of of +/- 3.1% at a 95% confidence interval. The 400 sample of

union households has an accuracy of +/- 4.9% at a 95% union households has an accuracy of +/- 4.9% at a 95% confidence interval.confidence interval.



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1. Three in four voters, at a 5 to 1 ratio (74%-15%), oppose Congress replacing the private ballot with card check.

2. More than 4 in 5 voters (86%-8%), say a worker’s vote to form a union should remain private. Voters believe a worker’s privacy is paramount.

3. Eighty-two percent of the voters (82%) say the a secret ballot is the best way to protect the individual rights of workers.

4. Seventy-two percent (72%) of union households agree that it is “risky and unwise” to leave their fate up to arbitration.

Major Findings



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5. Two in three voters (62%-26%), say that Card Check is not Democratic and that union organizers will abuse the process and intimidate the workers.

6. Three in four voters (73%-15%), say they should protect a worker’s right to a private ballot and fix certain aspects of the process.

7. 4 in 5 voters (79%-13%), say Congress should wait and focus on other issues and let the businesses and labor unions come to an agreement on their own.

8. 3 in 4 voters (77%-12%), prefer unions and employers come to an agreement vs. a federal arbitrator imposing a contract.

Major Findings



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9. 6 in 10 voters (61%-13%), are less likely to vote for a candidate for Congress who votes for Card Check.

10. Union household voters seem content with their unions and see corporations as more of a threat. However, most voters who are not in a union would be opposed to joining a union.

11. The majority of voters (52%-25%), believe that forcing businesses to use union workers will cost Americans jobs.

12. By a 5 to 3 majority (54%-33%), most voters oppose requiring appointing a federal arbitrator to impose contracts. By a 2 to 1 majority (52%-26%), they believe this will cost Americans jobs.

Major Findings



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There is a bill in Congress called the Employee Free Choice Act which would replace a There is a bill in Congress called the Employee Free Choice Act which would replace a federally supervised secret ballot election with a process that requires a majority of federally supervised secret ballot election with a process that requires a majority of

workers to simply sign a card to authorize organizing a union and the workers’ signatures workers to simply sign a card to authorize organizing a union and the workers’ signatures would be made public to their employer, the union organizers and their co-workers. Do would be made public to their employer, the union organizers and their co-workers. Do

you support or oppose Congress passing this legislation?you support or oppose Congress passing this legislation?

15

69

74

14

61

11

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Support Strongly Smwt. O ppose Smwt. Strongly DK/Ref.

20

10 9

74

10

63

7

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Support Strongly Smwt. O ppose Smwt. Strongly DK/Ref.

Total SampleTotal Sample Union Households OnlyUnion Households Only



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With a federally supervised secret ballot election, each worker’s ballot remains With a federally supervised secret ballot election, each worker’s ballot remains private. With the card signing process, the information would be made public and private. With the card signing process, the information would be made public and

union organizers, employers and co-workers would know how each worker voted. In union organizers, employers and co-workers would know how each worker voted. In deciding whether to organize a union, do you think a worker’s vote should remain deciding whether to organize a union, do you think a worker’s vote should remain

private or be public information?private or be public information?

86

8 6

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Private Public Inf. DK/Ref.

88

84

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Private Public Inf. DK/Ref.

Total SampleTotal Sample Union Household OnlyUnion Household Only



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If an election were held to decide whether workers would organize a union, which one of If an election were held to decide whether workers would organize a union, which one of the following types of elections is the best way to protect the individual rights of workers? the following types of elections is the best way to protect the individual rights of workers? Having a process where a union is organized if a majority of workers simply sign a card Having a process where a union is organized if a majority of workers simply sign a card and the workers’ signatures are made public to their employer, the union organizers and and the workers’ signatures are made public to their employer, the union organizers and their co-workers.their co-workers. OR, OR, Having a federally supervised secret ballot election where workers Having a federally supervised secret ballot election where workers

privately vote yes or no on whether to authorize union representation.privately vote yes or no on whether to authorize union representation.

11

82

7

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Sign Card Secret Ballot DK/Ref.

11

85

4

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Sign Card Secret Ballot DK/Ref.

Union Household OnlyUnion Household Only Total SampleTotal Sample



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The Employee Free Choice Act would require a process where a union is organized if a majority of The Employee Free Choice Act would require a process where a union is organized if a majority of workers simply sign a card and the workers’ signatures are made public to their employer, the union workers simply sign a card and the workers’ signatures are made public to their employer, the union

organizers and their co-workers. Knowing this, who do agree with more?organizers and their co-workers. Knowing this, who do agree with more? Supporters who say signing a Supporters who say signing a card is democratic and the most effective way to determine the wishes of a majority of workers and is card is democratic and the most effective way to determine the wishes of a majority of workers and is necessary to avoid anti-democratic employer coercion such as controlling wages, controlling working necessary to avoid anti-democratic employer coercion such as controlling wages, controlling working

hours and conditions and threatening to fire workers.hours and conditions and threatening to fire workers.OR,OR,Opponents who say this process is anti-Opponents who say this process is anti-democratic because it takes away a worker’s right to have a federally supervised secret ballot election democratic because it takes away a worker’s right to have a federally supervised secret ballot election where their votes remain private. The card signing process allows union organizers to show up at the where their votes remain private. The card signing process allows union organizers to show up at the worker’s home to get their signature, which gives the union organizers the opportunity to abuse the worker’s home to get their signature, which gives the union organizers the opportunity to abuse the

process and intimidate the workers into giving their signature.process and intimidate the workers into giving their signature.

26

62

12

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Supporters Opponents DK/Ref.

32

58

11

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70





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Who do agree with more? Who do agree with more? Supporters of the card signing process who say workers need a Supporters of the card signing process who say workers need a democratic alternative to the current election process because it’s broken. They claim that the democratic alternative to the current election process because it’s broken. They claim that the current election procedures allow employers to delay elections for months and give employers current election procedures allow employers to delay elections for months and give employers

almost unlimited access to employees while union supporters have almost none.almost unlimited access to employees while union supporters have almost none. OR, OR, Opponents Opponents of the card signing process who say it doesn’t fix the problem it only makes it worse by taking of the card signing process who say it doesn’t fix the problem it only makes it worse by taking

away a worker’s right to have a federally supervised secret ballot election. They say it would be away a worker’s right to have a federally supervised secret ballot election. They say it would be better to fix certain aspects of the current election process than throw out federally supervised better to fix certain aspects of the current election process than throw out federally supervised

secret ballot elections which are the cornerstone of our democracy.secret ballot elections which are the cornerstone of our democracy.

15

73

12

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80


19

72

9

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80





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In these tough economic times, labor unions are pushing for new laws that will In these tough economic times, labor unions are pushing for new laws that will make it easier to force workers into labor unions without a secret ballot by the make it easier to force workers into labor unions without a secret ballot by the

workers. If more American businesses are then forced by federal law to use workers. If more American businesses are then forced by federal law to use union workers, do you believe it will help American workers keep their jobs, or union workers, do you believe it will help American workers keep their jobs, or will they see more businesses close and American workers will lose their jobs?will they see more businesses close and American workers will lose their jobs?

25

52

23

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Keep Jobs Lose Jobs DK/Ref.

33

45

22

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Keep Jobs Lose Jobs DK/Ref.




13

Now that you have heard about this issue of union organizing elections, do you Now that you have heard about this issue of union organizing elections, do you feel this is an issue feel this is an issue Congress should focus on right now,Congress should focus on right now, OR, OR, should Congress should Congress

focus on other issues like jobs and healthcare first and wait until this issue could focus on other issues like jobs and healthcare first and wait until this issue could be solved in a compromise between businesses and labor unions on their own.be solved in a compromise between businesses and labor unions on their own.

13

79

7

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Right Now Wait DK/Refused

16

79

4

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Right Now Wait DK/Refused

Union Household OnlyUnion Household Only Union Household OnlyUnion Household Only



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As part of The Employee Free Choice Act, would you favor or oppose a new federal law requiring that after only 4-months of negotiations if management

and labor unions cannot come to an agreement, the federal government would appoint a government arbitrator who would force a 2-year binding labor

contract on the private business?

33

14

19

54

16

37

13

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

FAVOR Strongly Smwt. OPPOSE Smwt. Strongly DK/Ref .


37

16

21

51

14

36

13

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

FAVOR Strongly Smwt. OPPOSE Smwt. Strongly DK/Ref .



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Do you think that if American businesses are forced by a federal government arbitrator to pay their workers wages and benefits set by a federally imposed

government contract, it will help keep labor jobs in America, or will it cost America jobs?

26

52

22

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Keep Jobs Cost Jobs DK/Refused

33

48

19

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Keep Jobs Cost Jobs DK/Refused




16

71

18

10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Agree Disagree DK/Refused

72

21

8

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Agree Disagree DK/Refused


Please tell me whether you agree or disagree with the following statements regarding Government imposed contracts between businesses and labor unions?

It’s unnecessarily risky and unwise to place the fate of a company and the jobs and livelihood of the employees, and their families, in hands of a federal government bureaucrat, who may lack

much business experience and know little to nothing about the company, its business operations, the industry in which it operates and the financial pressure and competition the company may

face.



17

Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for a member of Congress who voted in favor of taking away a worker’s right to have a

federally supervised secret ballot election to decide whether to organize a union?

13

6 8

61

17

44

20

6

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

ML Much Smwt. LL Smwt. Much No Diff. DK/Ref.

16

8 8

65

14

51

15

5

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

ML Much Smwt. LL Smwt. Much No Diff. DK/Ref.




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Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for a member of Congress who voted to guarantee worker protection through the continued use of a federally supervised secret ballot election so that personal decisions about whether to join a union remain private?

67

48

20

10

37

16

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

ML Much Smwt. LL Smwt. Much No Diff.

73

53

19

10

37

12

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

ML Much Smwt. LL Smwt. Much No Diff.




19

Do you, or does anyone in your household, belong to a public or Do you, or does anyone in your household, belong to a public or government employees’ union, a teachers’ association or a private government employees’ union, a teachers’ association or a private

or other labor union?or other labor union?

22

9 7 7

77

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

UNIO N Public/Gov't

TeachersAssoc.

Priv./O ther

No/None

100

3932 32

00

20

40

60

80

100

120

UNIO N Public/Gov't

TeachersAssoc.

Priv./O ther

No/None

Union Household OnlyUnion Household Only Total HouseholdTotal Household



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If your workplace was deciding whether or not to If your workplace was deciding whether or not to organize a union, would you want to join a union?organize a union, would you want to join a union?

30

51

18

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

YES NO DK/Ref.

Total SampleTotal Sample

Coalition for a Democratic Workplace: National Survey Findings

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