Senior Citizens
Least Likely Americans to Back Teachers, Public Workers in Wisconsin
Only 33% of
older Americans back unions in battle with Wisconsin governor: most
people in
U.S. support the unions
March 2, 2011 -
The teachers and other public employees fighting to save their unions in
Wisconsin better not depend on the support of senior citizens to help
them keep their collective bargaining rights. Older people are much,
much more likely than younger people to side with the Republican
governor than the workers, according to a Pew Research Center survey.
Pew found most
Americans more likely to side with the public employee unions 42% back
the workers, 31 back the governor, according to the survey conducted
Feb. 27-27 among 1,009 adults.
The only group
in the survey more likely to back the governor than senior citizens were
Republicans.
Democrats, Young,
Less Affluent Side Strongly With Unions
The Pew analysis
says, Democrats overwhelmingly side with the government employee unions
in the ongoing dispute in Wisconsin. Two- thirds (67%) say this,
compared with just 12% who say they side more with the governor.
About half of
Republicans (53%) say they side more with Gov. Walker; 17% say they side
more with the public employee unions. Independents are evenly divided
(39% side more with the unions, 34% more with the governor).
Among those
ages 18 to 29, nearly half (46%) say they side more with the public
employee unions, while 13% say they side with the governor. Among those
ages 65 and older, the balance is reversed -- but the gap more narrow
(45% say they side more with the governor, 33% with the unions).
While whites are
nearly evenly divided (38% unions, 36% governor), non-white people are
much more likely to say they side more with the unions that represent
public employee workers (51% vs. 19%).
And while those
with household incomes of $75,000 or more are divided (36% side more
with the unions, 40% with the governor), those earning less clearly side
more with the government employee unions.
Among those with family income
of less than $30,000, 46% say they side more with the unions, while 20%
say they side more with the governor.
March 2, 2011 -
The teachers and other public employees fighting to save their unions in
Wisconsin better not depend on the support of senior citizens to help
them keep their collective bargaining rights. Older people are much,
much more likely than younger people to side with the Republican
governor than the workers, according to a Pew Research Center survey.