Public Opinion Research Among New Members Key findings from a survey conducted June 7-9, 2011 for HART RESEARCH ASSOTESCIA

Public Opinion Research Among New Members


Key findings from a survey conducted June 7-9, 2011 for

HARTRESEARCHA S S O T E SC I A

Public Opinion Research among New Members – June 2011 – Hart Research for2

Research Goals

Discover new members’ most important reasons for joining

Understand new members’ perceptions of the union

Ascertain new members’ intent regarding continued membership

Identify the reasons new members’ find most compelling to remain a member


Methodology

600 telephone interviews with members who have joined since November 2010 including 534 members who have joined since

January 1, 2011

Interviews conducted June 7 – 9, 2011


Education Employees Are Satisfied With Conditions; Instructors Less So Than ESPs

Overall Satisfaction with Working Conditions

58%

Verysatisfied

29% Not that satisfied

18%

41%47%

21% 24%

52%

72%

41%

11%

28%

All New Members Instructors ESPs

Fairlysatisfied

Just some-what

satisfied


BUT, Their Strong Sense Is That The Situation Is Getting Worse

4%

Change in Situation for Education Employees Past One/Two Years

15%

Gettingbetter

Stayingsame

Gettingworse

Gettingbetter

Stayingsame

Gettingworse

Gettingbetter

Stayingsame

Gettingworse

75%

2%9%

84%

7%

22%

63%



Table Of Contents

I. The Decision To Join

II. Impressions Of The Union

III. Involvement With The Union

IV. Choosing To Stay A Member


I. New Members’ Volunteered Reasons for

Joining Tell The Same StoryWhat were the biggest factors in your decision to join the union that represents employees where you work?

Political climate/legislature/governors trying to destroy union

They fight for us/protect us/take care of us/have our backs

To keep my job, job security, to protect my job

To protect our benefits, our pension

Legal coverage, legal backing, legal services, liability insurance

To protect our rights, bargaining rights

18%

14%

9%

8%

8%

8%

Instructors 21% ESPs 13%


I. News Reports And Talking With People About Membership Had The Most Influence On DecisionWhich one of these had the most influence on your decision to join union?

News reports about the legislative session

Talking with people about union membership

Materials from the union, including letters, flyers, and e-mails

None of these

38%

38%

10%

13%

44%

33%

8%

14%

29%

44%

13%

13%



I. New Members Joined To Take A Stand Against Education Cuts And Politicians% saying each played a very important role in their decision to join the union

4%

16%

46%

52%

70%

75%Fight against education

cuts/legislation threaten-ing our salaries, rights

Take stand against politicians trying to take

working people's rights

Time to do my part to make union stronger

Benefits/services, such as liability insurance,

legal/staff representation

Union was offering free dues for three months

Tired of union recruiters hounding me: wanted

them to leave me alone

75%

70%

49%

43%

14%

2%

74%

71%

55%

50%

19%

7%

Instructors ESPs


I. Most New Members Talked With Someone From The Union About Membership

14%

85%

Which of the following types of people, if any, did you talk with when you were making up your mind about whether to join the union?

Yes, I talked with someone

No/not sure

14%

21%

28%

50%

I talked with:A union member

A building rep or steward

A union staff person

A union officer


14%

22% 21%

41%

I. Two of Five New Members Had Not Previously Been Asked To Join

39%

61%

Before this year, had anyone personally asked you to join the union?

YesNo

How many times were you asked to join?

Once Twice Threetimes

Four +times

Among those who have been at their job for two years or more


II. A Majority Of New Members Know Just Some Or Very Little About Their Union

37%

35%

8%20%

Know a great deal

How much do you feel you know about your union?

43%

57%

Know a fair amount

Know just some

Know very little

17% Instructors25% ESPs


22%

11%

II. Most New Members Feel Well Represented By Their Union, But One Of Ten Feel The Union Is Doing A Poor Job

How well do you feel you are represented by your union?*

Well represented

(4+5 ratings*)

*ratings on a five-point scale, 5 = very well represented

Mixed feelings (3 rating*)

Not well represented

(1+2 ratings*)

61%

Very well27%



67%

13%8%

71%

11%7%

62%

16%

8%

II. New Members Say The Union Is Visible And Active In The State Capitol

In the state capitol, my union is:

Visible/active

Some ofboth

Invisible/inactive



53%

22%16%

49%

22% 22%

60%

21%

9%

II. New Members Say The Union Is Strong And Effective In The State Capitol

When it comes to standing up for education employees in the state capitol, my union is:


Some ofboth

Weak/ineffective

Strong/effective


9%11%

80%

III. New Members Feel They Have A Responsibility To Get Involved

Perspective on Being Involved with the Union

Members have a responsibility to get involved with their

union, because having members involved with

the union makes it stronger

The only responsibility a member has is to pay their dues, and as long as their dues are paid they have done their

part

Not sure/both equally



43% High union knowledge

41% High steward contact

III. Only One In Three New Members Got Involved; Those With High Union Knowledge and Contact More Likely To Be Involved

1%

65%

34%

Did you get involved in the union’s efforts to lobby the state legislature and influence the most recent legislative session?

YesNo

Not sure



III. New Members Are Willing To Consider A

Range Of Activities% saying they would consider doing each activity

37%

63%

74%

80%

85%

85%

93%

Attend 10-minute information

meeting at workTalk with co-worker about union issues

or membershipParticipate in union community events (food drive, walks)

Contact legislators about issues

Attend union-sponsored training/

profess. develop.

Contribute to union’s political

action

Serve on union leadership at work

All new members Instructors ESPs

96%

84%

87%

86%

76%

65%

32%

88%

87%

82%

73%

72%

60%

46%


14%

IV. Most Plan To Stay For At Least The Next Year, But A Significant Number Admit They Are Not Likely To Remain Members

Likelihood of Remaining Union Member for at Least the Next Year

Very/fairly likely

88% Instructors 81% ESPs

Just somewhat/ not likely

84%

Very likely75%


IV. Members Who Are Not Very Likely To Remain Members Volunteer The Expense As Their Top

ConcernWhat doubts or concerns do you have about remaining a member? What are the drawbacks to union membership?

Expensive, costs, dues, price, money, financial reason

Not active, not effective, have no influence on legislature

Retiring, leaving the district, changing/changed positions

Lost teaching position/not knowing if will be re-hired/unemployed

Lack of knowledge about union/not knowing what they would do for me

31%

12%

6%

6%

4%


IV. Identifying The New Members Who Are Least Likely To Remain With Union

DemocratsIndependentsRepublicans

WhitesAfrican-AmericansHispanics

Age 18 to 34Age 35 to 49Age 50/over

Tenure with employer: One year/less Two to five years Six years/longer

Member Type: Instructor ESP

Join Date: Nov/Dec Jan/Mar: April/June

11%14%22%

14%9%

12%

17%9%

14%

11% 20% 11%

11% 16%

12% 10% 16%

% saying they are just somewhat/not likely to remain a member for the next year


IV. Joining Together To Protect Education Is Most Convincing Reason To Remain A Member

Join together to protect education in FL/fight efforts to slash funding

Owe it to ourselves/others as workers/ fight against politicians trying to cut wages/take

rights

Dropping membership is what legislators want, easier to push agenda undermining public ed

Just beginning to undo damage to employees. Now is a critical time to win back ground.

Dropping membership undermines union's strength/more members/more effective

Dropping membership means letting down co-workers/made a commitment to stand together

Dropping membership means giving up benefits/ services

% saying message was very convincing reason to stay member

39%

41%

58%

58%

61%

65%

72%

Instructors ESPs

77%

70%

65%

62%

64%

45%

52%

68%

61%

59%

55%

53%

36%

28%


Key Take-Aways

New members joined to take a stand against politicians and education cuts.

They believe that members have a responsibility to be involved – not just pay dues.

Most new members know little about their union and are not involved.

Within some groups of new members, as many as one in five are unlikely to remain in the union unless they are engaged.



Key findings from a survey conducted June 7-9, 2011 for

HARTRESEARCHA S S O T E SC I A

Documents

Public Opinion Research Among New Members Key findings from a survey conducted June 7-9, 2011 for HART RESEARCH ASSOTESCIA