* From the Paul Simon Institute…

Most Illinois voters say they have a favorable overall opinion of labor unions, but their policy preferences are less like those of union leadership, according to the results of the latest poll from the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Among the 1,000 Illinois registered voters surveyed, more than half (57 percent) say they have at least a somewhat favorable view of labor unions, more than 20 points ahead of the 36 percent who have an unfavorable view.

However, voters are split on how much influence they would like unions to have – 30 percent support them having more influence, 29 percent think unions should maintain the influence they have, and 36 percent wish they had less influence.

The survey was conducted Sept. 27-Oct 2. It has a margin for error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

Wages and benefits for public sector unions have been an issue in Springfield, with Governor Bruce Rauner blaming them in part for the state’s budget deficit. He has also advocated for workers to be able to opt-out of paying unions for the work they do negotiating in the private and public sectors. Unions have said the wages and benefits they negotiate strengthen the state’s middle class. They also say even workers who don’t belong to a union should pay their fair share of the costs the union incurs representing and bargaining for non-members.

Self-described liberals (75 percent), Democrats (73 percent), and members of union households (75 percent) were most likely to have favorable views of unions. Only among conservatives and Republicans (37 percent each group) did fewer than half hold a favorable view.

Historically marginalized groups tend to desire that unions have more influence than they do today. Notably, 49 percent of African Americans want unions to have more influence compared to only 26 percent of whites.

Similarly, 40 percent of people with household incomes below $50,000 would like to see unions have more influence compared to only 24 percent of those with incomes over $100,000.

* But then we get to this…

Asked about their positions on right-to-work or “open shop” laws, respondents favored them by two-to-one, 48 percent to 24 percent. Notably, more than a quarter (28 percent) answered “other/don’t know,” suggesting a significant portion of the electorate is ambivalent or uninformed on the issue.

Most likely to favor right-to-work were conservatives and Republicans (64 percent and 63 percent, respectively). Most likely to oppose it were liberals and Democrats (36 percent and 32 percent), and members of labor union households (38 percent).

However, opinion shifted when interviewers explained “fair share” laws. Respondents were asked to choose between two statements: “When everyone in the workplace shares the gains won by the labor union, all workers should have to contribute to the union’s costs for negotiating those gains” or “No American should be required to pay dues to a private organization like a labor union against their will.”
There were 50 percent who supported the right to work description and 44 percent backing the fair share statement. Only 4 percent said they “don’t know.”

The fair-share position was most strongly favored by liberals and Democrats (61 percent and 55 percent), African Americans (52 percent), those in households earning less than $50,000 per year (51 percent), and members of union households (55 percent). Conservatives and Republicans (65 percent and 67 percent) were most likely to favor the right to work position.

“The disconnect between Illinoisans’ favorable view of unions, and preferences for policies the unions dislike is interesting,” said Charlie Leonard, a visiting professor at the Institute and one of the designers of the poll. “I think this has to be in part because declining membership in unions leaves fewer people with the experience of the gains they’ve won for workers. And opposition to union influence has been a drumbeat message from business groups and Chamber of Commerce organizations.”

That’s part of it. But part of it is also the way the questions were asked. “Do you favor or oppose right-to-work or open-shop laws?” may seem straightforward, but do people really know what that means? Perhaps a differently phrased question next time?

* Also, this seems overly broad…

· When everyone in the workplace shares the gains won by the labor union, all workers should have to contribute to the union’s costs for negotiating those gains OR
· No American should be required to pay dues to a private organization like a labor union against their will.