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Union-sponsored poll shows support for labor agenda

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Illinois
Polls

* The governor has been touting some horribly biased polling results which purport to show that the public favors his “Turnaround Agenda.” The Illinois AFL-CIO has now countered with its own statewide poll. You could argue that its questions are somewhat biased, but they’re not nearly as biased as Rauner’s polling was. Check it out…

Governor Rauner says the State of Illinois has been spending too much money over the past decade and therefore must make drastic across the board cuts to the state budget, including education. Others say these drastic cuts could be avoided by rolling back tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy. Which is closer to your view: that we should make across the board cuts to the state budget, or that we should roll back tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy?

Should Make Across the Board Cuts to State Budget 37%
Should Roll Back Tax Breaks for Corporations and the Wealthy 56%
Not sure 6%

Governor Rauner has been a staunch opponent to labor unions that represent state workers, saying that they have too much power. Others say unions are necessary because they provide a voice for workers, improve public service, and fight for the middle class against politicians and corporate greed. Which is closer to your view: that unions have too much power, or that they are necessary to fight for the middle class?

Unions Have Too Much Power 42%
Unions are Necessary to Fight for the Middle Class 56%
Not Sure 3%

Governor Rauner says public sector unions should not be able to make campaign contributions to the elected officials who negotiate their contracts. Others say that as long as billionaires and corporate CEO’s have a right to make huge campaign contributions, workers should have a right to participate in the democratic process through their union. Which is closer to your view: public sector unions should not be able to make campaign contributions, or public employees have a right to participate in campaigns through their union?

Public Sector Unions Should Not Be Able To Make Campaign Contributions 41%
Public Employees Have a Right to Participate in the Democratic Process Through Their Union 55%
Not sure 4%

Illinois law does not require anyone to join a union, but allows labor and management to agree that union represented employees must pay at least a fee sometimes called ‘fair share’ to cover the costs associated with bargaining the contract that benefits all employees. Some people believe that all employees who receive benefits as a result of collective bargaining should be required to pay something toward the costs of negotiating those benefits and administering union contracts. Governor Rauner does not agree that everyone represented by a union should pay something toward negotiating those benefits and administering union contracts. Do you agree or disagree that everyone represented by a union should pay something for negotiating and administering union contracts?

Agree 55%
Disagree 33%
Not sure 12%

The Illinois prevailing wage is a rate based on local wage standards for workers on public works construction projects. Governor Rauner wants to allow the state to pay workers lower wages than the prevailing wage in local areas, since it would save the state money. Others say the state should not undercut local, middle class wage rates because it drags down everyone’s incomes and hurts local business. Which comes closer to your view: that the wage standard should be set locally with a prevailing wage, or that the state should pay below the local prevailing wage?

Wage Standard Should be Set Locally with Prevailing Wage 68%
State Should Pay Below Local PrevailingWage 23%
Not sure 9%

Workers’ compensation costs, including medical expenses and payments to injured workers, were substantially reduced in 2011 by the State Legislature; however there is no evidence that insurance companies reduced insurance premiums accordingly. Do you support or oppose tougher regulation of insurance companies so that this does not happen again?

Support 77%
Oppose 13%
Not sure 10%

Comments

“Their polling method is corrupt”

Tnx,
ck

Comment by Roadiepig Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 1:04 pm
Dear Illinois AFL-CIO,

Polling is fine. Important even.

Education of your own stances and educating people to Rauner’s agenda is probably best.

Phase 2 shoukd start post haste.

OW

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 1:05 pm
Polling people’s opinions on policy, outside of extremely high profile social issues, is a mug’s game. People are in favor of policies that work, and opposed to ones that don’t. That’s really all you can know.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 1:29 pm
Bruce Rauner made a fortune buying companies and breaking them up. As governor, he recommends disunion and bankruptcy. If Governor Rauner was a marriage counselor, he would recommend divorce to all his clients.

What we have learned is as governor, Rauner believes shaking up Springfield really means giving up on solutions and letting the wolves into our homes to tear us apart.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 1:31 pm
Still waiting to see where “prevailing wage” comes from. I have asked IDOL. It is set higher than any wage paid locally. And sure, it is passed and set locally, …because IDOL tells you what to pass locally.

Comment by Shemp Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 1:31 pm
I’m glad I wasn’t in the middle of a drink Roadiepig. Great one.

Comment by Norseman Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 1:32 pm
“If Governor Rauner was a marriage counselor, he would recommend divorce to all his clients.”

To be fair, he would recommend divorce only after the children had been irreparably traumatized, and the marital assets had been pillaged.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 1:45 pm
**Education of your own stances and educating people to Rauner’s agenda is probably best.

Phase 2 shoukd start post haste.**

Look at the turnout at all of the different municipal gov’t meetings on the Rauner Resolution. The education is already happening.

Comment by AlabamaShake Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 1:46 pm
Don’t want to be a naysayer, but this poll is biased in the same ways that Rauner’s was.

It’s all in the preface to the questions.

Rauner starts everything, (including in his turnaround speeches) with “No worker should be forced to join a union” and then goes on to details.

This poll starts with “Illinois law does not require anyone to join a union” and moves on to details. They had to restate what “fair share” means three times in the same question.

Which preface is true — and which are voters more likely to believe and remember?

It is all about education.

Comment by walker Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 1:53 pm
++- Roadiepig - Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 1:04 pm:

“Their polling method is corrupt”++ Please define “their”.

Comment by Mama Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 2:02 pm
Their polling questions are just as bias as were the Governor’s questions. No real clarity or meaning to either results.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 2:09 pm
I’m pro union…but this poll is about as useful as asking Catholics if they think that homosessuality is a sin.

Having said that it’s useful…and a good counter to a certain governors obsession with unions.

Comment by Jack Stephens Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 2:18 pm
Mama- I guess o should have put this at the end, /snark

,but I wanted my faux email to look like the real ones Rich gets most everyday from Catherine Kelly.

Comment by Roadiepig Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 2:24 pm
- Roadiepig -, it’s all good, and really hilarious too.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 2:26 pm
First we waste time on meaningless resoluions and now polls….and still no bills

Comment by Anonin' Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 2:29 pm
Fritchey, “Shorts? No, no shorts. Not until May, mid May…”

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 2:29 pm
OW, think you made a wrong turn on the wrong thread.

To the post: whatever.

Comment by A guy Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 2:45 pm
Anyone who thinks unions are “educating” policy makers or the general public with their showings at all the local government meetings are only fooling themselves. What is happening is nothing short of mob action and intimidation. Not a way to change minds folks.

Comment by Big Muddy Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 3:01 pm
===What is happening is nothing short of mob action and intimidation===

lol

Ever read that “right to assemble” part of the Constitution? Also, didja miss the “redress of grievances” line?

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 3:02 pm
Ah, the influence and power of all those working folks in unions………as Sam Zell donates a mere 4 million to support Rauner’s agenda. Just think if all those people with real wealth were actually not fighting with all their power and dollars to not part with one more penny in taxes. Such constructive use of their wealth……..And people are worried about unions?

Comment by AnonymousOne Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 3:50 pm
“What is happening is nothing short of mob action and intimidation.”

C’mon, you can’t actually be that scared of democracy.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 4:06 pm
Intimidation and mob action should go no further than this.

A Little Upset

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 4:24 pm
Interesting, but I’m not sure if unions are going to come back in this country in the foreseeable future. In recent decades, membership has declined significantly, as we all know, and not because of mean old Bruce Rauner. Globalization, technology, the weakness of the progressive movement at the national level in the US, count the reasons. Maybe folks like the idea of unions in the abstract, but concretely, what are they doing about it. To paraphrase Peter Drucker, what will they be doing to advance unions on Monday.

Anyway, the question I’d like to see polled is, would you be willing to have your income taxes raised again to: prevent the cuts proposed by the guv, pay the pensions as they are now, ensure a prevailing wage on tax-payer funded projects, and so on. And by how much?

Comment by Cassandra Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 4:35 pm
– What is happening now is nothing short of mob action and intimidation–

Mob action and intimidation ain’t what they used to be.

Geez, dude, get a clue on the history of labor/capital battles in this state before you start embarrassing yourself with “mob action” babbling.

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 5:23 pm
Cassandra, frankly, paying the pensions is not subject to public opinion, although I think the public, just as they did when they approved the constitutional amendment in 1970, would side with not allowing the state to reneg on its contractual obligations. And, yes, poll away if it makes you feel better. Most people aren’t as self-serving as you are and understand that promises made are promises kept…just like they are in my house where my word is my bond.

Comment by PublicServant Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 5:34 pm
lets go back to old way of doing things….support IDOL with enough funding to do a comprehensive prevailing wage survey !! with a caveat that any that means any fraud will create legal recourse to the fraudulent parties either business taxing body agency or labor !!! you want facts here ya go labor this gives you a chance to prove a statewide cross section of market share for wages and fringes benefits paid on taxpayer supported projects…. my guess is there will be an excuse why it can’t be done…

Comment by railrat Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 6:00 pm
@railrat. Huh?

Comment by PublicServant Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 6:02 pm
OH and sorry but please check labor “leaders” LM2 reports !!! seems to me many of them are 1% rs oh but they do sooo much for the members !!! right !!

Comment by railrat Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 6:06 pm
– they do so much for the members –

The governor would agree with you. And they are elected by the members.

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 6:11 pm
Have you been drinking, Railrat? Yeah, that election thing doesn’t seem to get through that tin foil you wear, huh?

Comment by PublicServant Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 6:17 pm
PS. One exclamation point suffices in pretty much all cases.

Comment by PublicServant Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 6:18 pm
Public Servant ! you a tradesman (person)? been thru some union elections ? lets do a survey for prevailing wage ! the LM2 scares you huh ? it should

Comment by railrat Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 6:53 pm
Never been a member of a union, Railrat. Just wondering what your background is, and what your beef is. I think unions, for the most part, support the middle class, while a middle class without unions soon becomes lower class and all in pursuit of more profits for the 1% at the expense of the middle class in this country.

Comment by PublicServant Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 7:01 pm
Unions force employers to be honest. Unions have enabled our society to have a middle class(that bears the brunt of paying taxes, by the way). Without unions we’d all be working in a 24/7 sweatshop. They are not perfect but not too much is.

Comment by AnonymousOne Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 7:38 pm
Good point on Workers comp AFL The Gov could have his insurance regulator work on that before ..well I guess he doesn’t have a bill just a stump speech

Comment by Illinois Manufacturer Monday, Apr 27, 15 @ 9:57 pm
PublicServant, not sure you are right that the public would support your position on “contractual obligations”. If these agreements come to be considered overly lucrative and forged to keep a certain political bloc in power, any existing support would vanish.

Comment by Big Mouth Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 8:19 am
“the state should pay below the local prevailing wage”

Talk about a biased question.

Comment by econ prof Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 9:28 am
Well Big Mouth, while I know that’s your position, and your opinion, what I’m saying is that the Supreme court justices will have the last word on it. And the public isn’t anywhere near as jaded as you are, although I’m sure you will try to convince them that your view is true. I’m willing to see how things shake out. How bout you, bud?

Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 10:57 am
Recall recall recall recall

Comment by Holy Smokes Tuesday, Apr 28, 15 @ 11:21 am