OME eminent trade union chiefs have been telling us that the public image of the unions is tarnished and that, unless we mend our ways, we shall lose any prestige and influence we ever possessed. But, it seems, these leaders may have been under a misapprehension, for, according to a recent Gallup Poll, “the trades union movement stands in high regard with the public.” Seventy per cent. of those questioned in an inquiry made for the Sunday Telegraph thought “trade unions are a good thing—generally speaking.” Only once before, in 1954, when 71 per cent. held this favourable view has the movement enjoyed such widespread approval. A report on the inquiry says the view is that: the power of the unions will increase rather than decrease in the years ahead; union officials are efficient; and the trend towards larger unions was approved both by the public and by the union members themselves. The unions lost favour with — the public whenever there was: disagreement between unions or union leaders; failure to maintain discipline, to contain wildcat or unofficial strikes; squabbling over political issues; and weakness in putsuing the legitimate industrial aims of the union members. The report discloses that with all sections of the community, industrial
issues predominate as “the most
urgent problems facing the trade
unions.” Political issues receive few
mentions.
As for union objectives, the
majority of members, 52 per cent.,
rate “security of employment” as
their main concern. Second, 4o
per cent., is “better working condi-
tions” and third, 38 per cent., “profit
sharing.” Fourth, 21 per cent.,
comes “better pensions,” and _ fifth,
18 per cent., “higher wages.”
A majority of union members are
reported to be willing members. Only
I2 per cent. say they would leave
their union if they were free to con-
tinue in their jobs as non-unionists.
The majority of union members, 64
per cent., believe that “a worker who
does not join a union is evading his
responsibilities to other workers.”
Most union members, 55 per cent.,
support the principle of the closed
shop and 41 per cent. are prepared
to refuse to work with non-unionsts
to enforce this principle.
About the right to strike, 29 per
cent. of the general public are pre-
pared to disallow strikes and make
arbitration compulsory. Even fewer,
23 per cent., of the general public are
prepared to concede that the unquali-
fied right to strike is an “essential
freedom.”
The largest group, 34 per cent.,
believe that “workers should be
allowed to strike when arbitration
has failed” to bring about a solution
acceptable to them.
*From N.U.G.MW. JOURNAL.
THE WEEK — Jan. 27, 1965