Less than half of Americans now approve of labor unions

The results of Gallup's annual Work and Education survey find organized labor taking a significant image hit over the past year. While 66% of Americans continue to believe unions are beneficial to their own members, a slight majority now say unions hurt the nation's economy.

More broadly, fewer than half of Americans – 48%, an all-time low – approve of labor unions, down from 59% a year ago. The 48% of Americans now approving of unions represent the first sub-50% approval since Gallup first asked the question in 1936. The previous low was 55%, found in both 1979 and 1981. That first poll found 72% of Americans approving of unions and only 20% disapproving.

Gallup attributes the downslide to the economic recession, and the aftermath of major economic interventions by the government on behalf of two of the Big Three domestic auto companies. Results were based on telephone interviews with 1,010 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted Aug. 6-9, 2009. Gallup released its poll on September 3.