Michigan Union Households Support Some Labor Reform Measures

Survey finds many union voters back secret ballot protections and other labor reforms

A new survey of union household members in Michigan suggests many voters support labor reforms aimed at limiting certain powers held by union leadership, according to results released by the Coalition to Protect American Workers.

The poll, conducted Feb. 9 to 10 among 200 union household members in Michigan, found that many respondents draw a distinction between supporting unions and opposing some actions taken by union leaders.

According to the survey, 76 percent of respondents said American workers have more freedoms than workers in other countries. At the same time, 65 percent said Congress should overturn policies that allow union leaders to pressure workers into voting without a secret ballot. Support for that proposal included 68 percent of Democratic respondents.

“American workers in Michigan are sending a clear message: they want fairness, not manipulation. When two-thirds of union members, including Democrats, say workers deserve a secret ballot free from pressure tactics, that’s a mandate. The Biden NLRB spent four years tipping the scales against workers and toward union political machines. These numbers reveal what we all know: the American worker never asked for that. American workers are ready to reward candidates and policymakers who side with them,” said Gene Hamilton, President of America First Legal and Senior Advisor to Coalition to Protect American.

The survey also found that 58 percent of respondents favor overturning policies that allow union leaders to delay scheduled elections if they believe they may lose. Support for that change was similar across political affiliations, including 58 percent of Democrats and 59 percent of Republicans.

Poll results indicate some union household voters could shift their support depending on candidates’ positions on labor reform. The survey found 44 percent of respondents said they would be more likely to support candidates who back policies that empower union leadership, while 36 percent said they would be less likely and 20 percent said they were unsure.

Among respondents who described themselves as “very liberal,” 53 percent said they would support a pro-union congressional candidate, compared with 58 percent of those who identified as “very conservative,” according to the poll.

The Coalition to Protect American Workers said the results show union households are open to candidates who emphasize workplace transparency, secret ballots in union elections and other reforms aimed at limiting leadership overreach.

The survey included 200 union household members in Michigan and has a margin of error of plus or minus 6.9 percentage points.