Wfi Co Presentation Press

January 25, 2010

The EFCA Debate In Colorado

Key Findings From A Colorado Statewide Survey

Thursday, January 28, 2010

WFI Colorado Statewide Survey December 2009 Slide

Research Methodology

Colorado

On behalf of the Workforce Fairness Institute, Public Opinion Strategies is pleased to present the key findings of a Colorado statewide telephone survey among voters and union households. The study was completed December 12-15, 2009 among 500 registered voters (margin of error of +4.38%) and among 300 union households (margin of error of +5.66%) .


Colorado

The Things 4

You Need To Know



The Things You Need To Know

While union leaders tout the importance of passing the Employee Free Choice Act, few union households are familiar with the proposal.When they hear what the proposed legislation will do, solid majorities of union households and voters statewide oppose it.

And, voters and union households say they are more likely to support a candidate who will vote to oppose changing the way unions are formed and the bargaining process.This data shows that voters are very unhappy with Congress and Senator Michael Bennett has some significant political obstacles to overcome.

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A Look At The Key EFCA Metrics

Colorado



Total A Lot/Some Total Not Much/Nothing

“How much, if anything, have you seen, read, or heard about the Employee Free Choice Act, also known as “card check” – a proposal in Congress to change labor laws in this country?”

Nearly four out of ten voters have heard something about EFCA; awareness is lower

among current union households.

38% 36%

61% 63%

All Voters Union Households

40% Nothing

At All

42% Nothing

At All


What We Did

“Change the way unions are formed. Instead of holding a federally supervised secret ballot election to decide whether to unionize, union

organizers would be allowed to ask employees to sign a card saying they support forming a union. Once a majority of employees sign these cards,

the union would officially represent that company's entire workforce.”

“As you may know, the United States Congress is debating legislation to change several key labor laws in this country. Because this legislation is long, we have divided it into two parts. After I read each part, please tell me if you FAVOR or OPPOSE this particular aspect

of the legislation.”

“Change the bargaining process. This legislation would give the newly formed union and the employer 90 days to reach a contract agreement or

else the matter will be handed over to federal arbitrators. It would be those arbitrators who would determine the wages, benefits and other terms of the

contract that employees would be required to work under for two years.”

We tested the two key components of EFCA:

WFI Colorado Statewide Survey January 2010 Slide 7



Among All Voters

Total Favor Total Oppose

Change The Way Unions Are Formed Change The Bargaining Process

-37% -33%

29% 31%

66% 64%

50% Strongly Oppose

48% Strongly Oppose

Solid majorities of Colorado voters oppose both aspect of EFCA (and, do so strongly).





Interestingly, the voters most familiar with EFCA are also the voters most opposed to EFCA.

9%

23%17%

26%

89%

72%79%

67%

A Lot(12%)

A Lot/Some(38%)

A Lot(12%)

A Lot/Some(38%)





15%28%

45%

18%

32%43%

81%

65%

49%

78%

63%

49%

Republicans(38%)

Independents(23%)

Democrats(37%)

Republicans(38%)

Independents(23%)

Democrats(37%)

Democratic voters oppose the two main parts of the proposed legislation.



Among Union Households



-23% -26%

37%33%

60% 59%

14% Strongly Favor

43% Strongly Oppose

43% Strongly Oppose

11% Strongly Favor

Union households also oppose these key tenants of EFCA – and do so by large margins.



“Thinking ahead to the next election, would you be more likely to vote for a candidate who... FAVORS changing the way unions are formed and the bargaining process … or …

OPPOSES changing the way unions are formed and the bargaining process?”

Favors Opposes

And, union households say they are more likely to back a candidate who opposes EFCA.

34% 36%

48% 48%




What We Did

“Some people say that business owners often drag out the union election process, making union campaigns long and

costly, discouraging union efforts.”

“In addition to the two parts of this proposal we have already discussed, the legislation would also require union elections to take place within 10 days after the

union presents business owners with signed cards from 30 per cent of the employees AND it would require business owners to allow union organizers to talk to

employees about unionization at the workplace during company time.”

“Other people say that according to the federal agency in charge of overseeing labor relations, 90 percent of union elections take place

within 60 days and that the process in place now is working.”

We also tested:

…While…



Owners Drag Out Process Is Working

34%39%

45%

33%

49% 49%44%

56%

All Voters Union Households Current UnionHouseholds

Former UnionHouseholds

Weak case for making change: Even current union households are split on whether or not the

current process is working.



“If the Employee Free Choice Act becomes law, federal government arbitrators would have the final say in determining contract terms. Are you comfortable or uncomfortable giving government arbitrators the right to set the wages and benefits that workers would

be forced to accept?”

Comfortable Uncomfortable

Nearly three-fourths of union households are uncomfortable with government arbitrators

determining final contracts.

17%24%

80%73%




“And, when it comes to who has the final say on an employee contract agreement, which one would you prefer: That government arbitrators have the ability to determine the terms of a

contract and require employees to accept it …or… That employees have the right to accept a final contract offer or renegotiate for a fairer deal?”

Government Arbitrators Employees

Nearly all agree that employees should have the right to accept or reject a final contract offer.

9% 9%

88% 88%



Colorado

The PoliticalLandscape



Comparison Of Job Approval Ratings

Approve Disapprove

Among All Voters Among Union Households

43%

21%

50%

25%

51%

74%

44%

68%

President ObamaJob Approval

CongressionalJob Approval

President ObamaJob Approval

CongressionalJob Approval

-8% -53% +6% -43%

The President’s job approval ratings are down, though they look good compared to Congress’.



Michael Bennett’s Image Rating

Favorable Unfavorable

+3% +11%

Senator Michael Bennett is largely undefined, even among union voters in the state.

26%30%

23%19%




“And, do you think Michael Bennett has performed his job as U.S. Senator well enough to deserve re-election, or do you think it's time to give a new person a chance to do a better job?”

Total Re-Elect Total New Person


-25% -18%

20% 22%

45%40%

31% Definitely

New Person25%

Definitely New Person

And, this is clearly reflected in Senator Bennett’s weak generic re-elect levels.



Among Union HouseholdsThe economy and jobs

Health care

The situation in Iraq and Afghanistan

Taxes and spending

Education

Illegal immigration

Social Security and Medicare

Terrorism and national security

Energy-related issues

Moral values

Labor laws 3%

49%30%30%

19%18%

15%11%

9%7%

5%

First Choice - 28%

15%

12%

12%

10%

5%

5%

Even union households don’t see labor laws as an issue the President and Congress should address.

Ranked By Combined Choice

“Which of the following would you say are the two most important issues or problems facing the nation today that you would like to see President Obama and Congress address?”



“On the issue of health care...From what you have heard about the health care reform plan being considered by Congress, do you think this plan is a good idea or a bad idea? If you

do not have an opinion either way, please just say so.”

Good Idea Bad Idea

27%32%

53%45%


-26% -13%

A majority of voters and a plurality of union voters think the health care plan is a bad idea.



“And, thinking some more about health care reform plan now being considered by Congress...Would you advise your member of Congress to vote for or against the

currently proposed health care bill?”

For It Against It

Voters and union households advise their Member of Congress to vote against the reform plan.

33%39%

57%51%




News & Politics

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