Labor unions largely popular in US, but Americans divided on impact: Survey

A recent survey found that while labor unions are largely popular in the U.S., Americans are divided on the strength of their influence.

The YouGov survey, released Friday, shows 59 percent of Americans see unions in a “very” or “somewhat” positive light. On the opposite side, 26 percent said they see them in a “somewhat” or “very” negative light.

The pollster noted that while some believe unions “result in more frequent strikes and higher consumer costs,” others laud the success organizations have had with “increasing worker salaries and giving workers more power and job satisfaction.”

Labor unions — such as United Auto Workers (UAW), AFL-CIO and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters — have come into the spotlight in recent months as Vice President Harris and former President Trump have battled for their backing ahead of November’s election.

Asked about the influence level labor unions have had “over the past year,” 26 percent said they “are stronger,” while 31 percent said “not much change” has occurred, the survey found.

UAW and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) have already endorsed Harris in the election, now just two months away, after President Biden stepped aside and threw his support behind his vice president to lead the ticket.

The Teamsters have yet to announce if they will back a candidate. Union President Sean O’Brien addressed the Republican National Convention in July, highlighting the importance of American workers, but stressed it was not an endorsement of Republicans.

The union is also scheduled to host a roundtable later this month with Harris and union members. The organization has also hosted roundtables with Trump and Biden, before he dropped out, as well as independent candidates Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West.

UAW President Shawn Fain spoke at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) last month in Chicago, stating that the vice president “stands shoulder to shoulder with workers when they’re on strike.”

A memo issued last month from the Harris campaign noted that the support of unions would help drive Democrats’ success against Trump.

Americans’ attitude toward labor unions varies by occupation, the poll found.

The unions with the most favorable ratings were those representing firefighters (71 percent), nurses (68 percent) and construction workers (67 percent). Those with the least favorable opinion were related to university instructors, actors and government employees, which each brought in only 30 percent support, according to the survey.

The YouGov survey, conducted between August 22-24, features 1,130 respondents and a margin of error of 3.8 percentage points.