Public support of unions higher than thought

A new Bloomberg National Poll finds unions with more support than one might suspect.

Sixty-four percent of respondents, including a plurality of Republicans, say public employees should have the right to bargain collectively for their wages. Sixty-three percent, including 55 percent of Republicans, say states without enough money to pay for all the pension benefits they have promised to current retirees shouldn’t be able to break those obligations.

Empire State union density declines

Union membership density in New York declined (incremental) for the second year in a row to 24.1%. The recorded high point is 1991 (29.1%). This decline is dramatic for a state with significant union membership, the decline is significantly smaller than the decline recorded nationwide.

Locked Out!

The New York Times has a good article about why employers are using lockouts more aggressively. This once rare tactic is gaining favor and its not because the NFL and NBA used it.

SOPA support crosses political divide

Its hard to find something the United States Chamber of Commerce and major unions both endorse. But The STOP Online Piracy Act (SOPA) is it. It still does not make the legislation a good idea.

Trumka and popular economics?

Esquire has a piece on "Man of the Year" Richard Trumka. The article contains a full serving of economic populism.

Jobs on unions

Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs biography relates some pretty negative views Jobs had on public school unions.

Damn unions!

U.S. unions disrupt Lybian liberation.

What do the kids know?

When it comes to unions, these Michigan high schoolers seem to have the same superficial knowledge and opinions most adults have.

Miller nixed, union afilliation noted

Marvin Miller, long time head of the Major League Baseball Players Association (1966-1981) failed to get enough votes for Hall of Fame membership. This article suggests a few voters hate them some unions.

What does the general public think about unions?

Is the current decline in public support for unions tied to the economy, or is there a more sophisticated reason, including the coordinated effort to blame unions for all that is wrong in this country?

Car proxy wars

We have previously posted here and here about the silly attempt to make car manufacturers proxies in the union/anti-union wars and in the red blue game. Bob Herbert's NYT opinion piece provides fuel and a black hat portrait of Toyota and its decision to close NUMMI and the impact of job losses in California.