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Perceptions of trade unions

16 Jun 2020

Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the role of unions in the workplace?

  TOTAL: Agree TOTAL: Disagree Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Unsure
Unions provide essential services to their members to ensure they are paid appropriately and have safe working environments 74% 11% 34% 40% 8% 3% 15%
A union gives workers more power with employers through a collective voice 74% 12% 34% 40% 9% 3% 15%
Unions provide advice and services to which members would otherwise not have access 70% 13% 30% 40% 10% 3% 17%
Unions are vital to stop businesses taking advantage of their employees 67% 16% 34% 33% 12% 5% 16%
Unions that insist on minimum qualifications and training create a highly-skilled workforce 64% 15% 27% 38% 11% 4% 20%
               
Unions are too politically biased 62% 19% 30% 31% 12% 7% 19%
Union protection makes it difficult for employers to discipline, terminate or even promote employees 58% 24% 25% 33% 18% 6% 18%
Unions add an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy for businesses 49% 33% 21% 28% 22% 11% 18%
Unions are corrupt 47% 30% 19% 28% 18% 12% 23%
Employment law and regulations mean unions are no longer needed 41% 40% 16% 26% 25% 15% 19%
  • There was higher agreement with statements pertaining to positive perceptions of unions than negative. 74% agreed that ‘Unions provide essential services to their members to ensure they are paid appropriately and have safe working environments’ and ‘A union gives workers more power with employers through a collective voice’.
  • 62% agreed that ‘Unions are too politically biased’ and over half (58%) agreed that ‘Union protection makes it difficult for employers to discipline, terminate or even promote employees’.
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