A Gallup poll released Thursday shows that less than half of Americans, 48 percent, approve of labor unions. The next lowest approval rating was in 1979 and 1981 polls in which 55 percent of Americans indicated they disapproved of unions.

A year ago 59 percent of respondents said they approved of unions. The amount of Americans who believe unions are damaging to companies has also increased. The recent poll shows 46 percent of respondents indicate they believe unions hurt companies, compared to the 39 percent response in 2006.

More than half, or 51 percent, said they believed unions are harmful to the United States economy.

Rep Steven Brunk, R-Bel Aire, and chair of the House commerce and labor committee said he was unsure that unions were helpful to the Kansas economy.

“Kansas is a right-to-work state so no one has to join a union, however there is extraordinary pressure from the unions to join,” Brunk told Kansas Liberty. “While at one time I think there was a real place for them… it seems like maybe now their usefulness has come and gone.”

Some may also be put off by the use of union dues to pursue what many consider to be a liberal political agenda. Gov. Mark Parkinson is supporting an effort to require private companies and individuals working as service providers to state agencies to provide personal data on their employees so the state can pass the details on to SEIU, Service Employees International Union, one of the nation's largest unions.

The union, which represents government employees, has been one of the strongest supporters of Obamacare, the Democratic health-care plan, in an alliance with several other far-left organizations.

According to the union's website, "The groups supporting the massive push for health care reform along with SEIU and Health Care for America Now include Change to Win, the AFL-CIO, the Children's Defense Fund, MoveOn.org, Americans United for Change, Rock the Vote, National Women's Law Center, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and Democracy for America."

Today, at a California rally to support the Democratic plan, a 65-year-old man was involved in a confrontation with pro-Obama activists from MoveOn.org. A portion of his finger was bitten off.  Doctors at a nearby hospital were unable to re-attach the finger for the man, even though he was covered by Medicaid.

- Holly Smith

Resources

Gallup poll
http://www.gallup.com/poll/122744/Labor-Unions-Sharp-Slide-Public-Support.aspx?CSTS=alert

California rally incident: http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/sep/03/healthcare-reform-opponent-loses-part-of-finger/

SEIU and its alliance in support of Obamacare: http://www.seiu.org/2009/06/campaign-for-americas-future-prepares-the-way-for-healthcare-reform.php

Previously on Kansas Liberty

Kansas state agencies told to pass personal info to liberal union activists
http://www.kansasliberty.com/liberty-update-archive/2009/07sep/kansas-state-agencies-gather-provider-information-to-be-passed-on-to-democrat-linked-union/

The Week in Review