Public support for organized labor has rebounded in last five years and reached 58 percent, according to a Gallup poll, 10 points up from its all-time low of 48 percent in 2009.
The rebound puts union approval numbers back to where they have stood for most of the last four decades. Gallup put union support at 60 percent in 1972 and despite a few fluctuations since then, approval remained at 60 percent in 2008. The number fell 12 points the next year, largely due to public disapproval of the federal bailout of the U.S. auto industry.
“With the economy continuing to do better than it did during the recession and the 2008 government bailout of two of the Big Three American auto companies — for which unions’ image may have suffered — fading further into history, Americans’ views of unions are largely restored to what they were six years ago,” Gallup pollster Lydia Saad said.
The poll found other good news for unions, as the number of Americans who favor more union influence in public policy hit 37 percent, up 12 points from its all-time low in 2009. The number who want unions to have less influence has declined to 35 percent, down seven points from 2009.
Still, most people remain pessimistic about the movement’s ability to recover, as 53 three percent say union power is on the decline.
Notably, those likely to have the least experience with unions, people aged 18-34 years old, are the most supportive of unions. In that group, 66 percent approve and 44 percent say they want unions to have more influence.
The poll is a hopeful sign for a movement attempting to reverse a three-decade-long slide in membership. Only 11 percent of workers currently belong to a union, down from 20 percent in 1983.
