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The EFCA Debate In Colorado

Key Findings From A Colorado Statewide Survey

January 25, 2010

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Research Methodology

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

WFI Colorado Statewide Survey December 2009 Slide

Colorado

4
The Things

You Need To Know


4 The Things You Need To Know

1
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
2
do, solid majorities of union households and voters
statewide oppose it.
And, voters and union households say they are
3
more likely to support a candidate who will vote to
oppose changing the way unions are formed and the
bargaining process.

4
This data shows that voters are very unhappy with
Congress and Senator Michael Bennett has some
significant political obstacles to overcome.


Colorado

A Look At The
Key EFCA Metrics


Nearly four out of ten voters have heard
something about EFCA; awareness is lower
among current union households.
“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?”

61% 63%

38% 36% 42%
40% Nothing
Nothing At All
At All

All Voters Union Households

Total A Lot/Some Total Not Much/Nothing

What We Did

We tested the two key components of EFCA:
“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 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.”

“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.”

WFI Colorado Statewide Survey January 2010 Slide 7

Solid majorities of Colorado voters oppose
both aspect of EFCA (and, do so strongly).
Among All Voters
-37% -33%
66% 64%

50% 48%
29% Strongly 31%
Strongly
Oppose Oppose

Change The Way Unions Are Formed Change The Bargaining Process

Total Favor Total Oppose


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

89%
79%
72%
67%

23% 26%
17%
9%

A Lot A Lot/Some A Lot A Lot/Some
(12%) (38%) (12%) (38%)



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


81% 78%
65% 63%
49% 49%
45% 43%
32%
28%
15% 18%

Republicans Independents Democrats Republicans Independents Democrats
(38%) (23%) (37%) (38%) (23%) (37%)



Union households also oppose these key
tenants of EFCA – and do so by large margins.
Among Union Households
-23% -26%

60% 59%

37%
43%
33%
43%
Strongly
Strongly
Oppose
Oppose

14% Strongly Favor 11% Strongly Favor




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

48% 48%

34% 36%


Favors Opposes

What We Did

We also tested:
“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.”

“Some people say that business owners often drag out the
union election process, making union campaigns long and
costly, discouraging union efforts.”
…While…

“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.”


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

56%
49% 49%
45% 44%
39%
34% 33%

All Voters Union Households Current Union Former Union
Households Households

Owners Drag Out Process Is Working


Nearly three-fourths of union households are
uncomfortable with government arbitrators
determining final contracts.
“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?”

80%
73%

24%
17%

Comfortable Uncomfortable

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

88% 88%

9% 9%


Government Arbitrators Employees

Colorado

The Political
Landscape


The President’s job approval ratings are down,
though they look good compared to Congress’.
Comparison Of Job Approval Ratings
Among All Voters Among Union Households
-8% -53% +6% -43%
74%
68%

51% 50%
43% 44%

25%
21%

President Obama Congressional President Obama Congressional
Job Approval Job Approval Job Approval Job Approval
Approve Disapprove


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

Michael Bennett’s Image Rating

+3% +11%

30%
26%
23%
19%


Favorable Unfavorable


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

-25% -18%
45%
40%

20% 31% 22%
Definitely 25%
New Person Definitely
New Person

Total Re-Elect Total New Person


Even union households don’t see labor laws as an
issue the President and Congress should address.
“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?”
Among Union Households
The economy and jobs First Choice - 28% 49%
Health care 15% 30%
The situation in Iraq and Afghanistan 12% 30%
Taxes and spending 12% 19%
Education 10% 18%
Illegal immigration 5% 15%
Social Security and Medicare 5% 11%
Terrorism and national security 9%
Energy-related issues 7%
Moral values 5%
Ranked By
Labor laws 3% Combined Choice


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

-26% -13%

53%
45%

32%
27%

Good Idea Bad Idea


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

57%
51%
39%
33%


For It Against It


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