Better or worse off with stronger unions
Q. Overall, would workers be better off or worse off if unions in Australia were stronger?
10 Sept 12 |
Total 20 May 13 |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Work full time |
Work part time |
|
Total better off |
39% |
43% |
65% |
28% |
61% |
43% |
44% |
Total worse off |
30% |
29% |
11% |
50% |
10% |
32% |
28% |
A lot better off |
13% |
14% |
23% |
7% |
26% |
15% |
14% |
A little better off |
26% |
29% |
42% |
21% |
35% |
28% |
30% |
A little worse off |
15% |
14% |
9% |
19% |
9% |
15% |
16% |
A lot worse off |
15% |
15% |
2% |
31% |
1% |
17% |
12% |
Make no difference |
15% |
12% |
10% |
12% |
16% |
13% |
11% |
Don’t know |
15% |
14% |
13% |
10% |
12% |
12% |
17% |
The perception that workers would be better off with stronger unions has increased since this question was asked in September last year. 43% (up 4%) felt that workers would be better off if unions in Australia were stronger and 29% (down 1%) that believed workers would be worse off.
By voting intention, 65% of Labor voters and 61% of Greens voters believed that workers would be better off while Coalition voters were by far the most likely to believe that workers would be worse off (50%).
51% of respondents on incomes of $600-$1,000pw thought that workers would be better off with stronger unions.
Membership of Organisations
Q. Which of the following types of organisations have you ever been a member of?
Q. Which of the following types of organisations are you currently a member of?
Q. And which of the following types of organisations have you joined in the last 12 months?
Ever been a member | Currently a member | Joined in last 12 months | |
Trade union | 34% | 9% | 2% |
Professional organization | 28% | 13% | 3% |
Environment group | 9% | 4% | 2% |
Religion/church | 31% | 13% | 2% |
Book club | 14% | 4% | 1% |
Service organisation like Rotary, Lions, Apex, etc | 9% | 4% | 1% |
School organisation e.g. parents club, school council | 22% | 4% | 2% |
Sports club | 38% | 17% | 6% |
Political party | 6% | 1% | * |
Local community group | 21% | 11% | 3% |
Special interest or hobby group e.g. gardening, birdwatching, chess, etc | 20% | 10% | 3% |
Other organisation | 9% | 6% | 1% |
Total members | 81% | 56% | 20% |
56% say they are currently members of an organisation and 20% say they have joined an organisation in the last 12 months. The most popular types of organisations are sports clubs (17% members) religions/churches (13%) and professional organisations (13%). Membership of organisations is slightly lower for those aged under 35 (53%) and a little higher for those aged 55+ (58%). 59% of men and 53% of women say they are members of an organisation.

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