Unions Poll well

Gary Morgan of Morgan Poll says:

“Although Trade Union membership has declined significantly in Australia a clear majority of Australians (67% - up 5% since November 1974) believe on balance that Trade Unions have been good for Australia — including a majority of supporters of both major parties: 82% of ALP supporters and 56% of L-NP supporters.

“Despite this positive view of Trade Unions over the years, a very clear majority of Australians (87%) believe membership of Trade Unions should be voluntary (96% of L-NP supporters and 82% of ALP supporters) compared to only 9% that say compulsory (15% of ALP supporters and only 3% of L-NP supporters).

“However, the lack of support for compulsory unionism does not mean Australians reject the ‘right to strike’ — clear majorities of Australians support the right of Private Industry workers (83%), Public Utilities workers (76%) and Government workers (77%) to strike — this includes majorities of supporters of each major party. This is a big change from November 1974 when only 58% supported the right of Private Industry workers to strike and 48% supported the right of Public Utility workers and Government workers to strike.

“Another big change from the 1970s concerns the frequency of strikes - a majority of Australians believe there is ‘about the right number of strikes’ (57%, up 49%) while 32% (down 59%) say they 'occur too often’ and just 11% (up 10%) believe strikes should 'occur more often’. Here there is a clear ideological difference as 45% of L-NP supporters believe strikes 'occur too often’ compared to only 22% of ALP supporters and 14% of ALP supporters believe strikes should 'occur more often’ compared to only 5% of L-NP supporters.”

This special telephone Morgan Poll was conducted over the two nights last week of January 17/18, 2012, with an Australia-wide cross-section of 646 Australians aged 14+ including 540 electors.