Public sees more negative than positive effects from unions' diminished ranks % who say the reduction in union representation working over the past 20 years has been for working people
When it comes to public opinion, Americans generally have a favorable view of unions and believe that the long-term decline in their membership has been more of a bad thing than a good thing.
A 55% majority of U.S. adults said earlier this year that they view labor unions favorably, compared with a third who viewed them unfavorably. These views have fluctuated over the past two decades, but are now more positive than they were during the Great Recession. In the same survey, around half of Americans (51%) said the reduction in union representation over the past 20 years has been mostly bad for working people, while around a third (35%) said it has been mostly good.
Public sees more negative than positive  | effects from unions' diminished ranks  | % who say the reduction in union representation working over  | the past 20 years has been for working people  | Mostly bad  | Mostly good  | Total  | 51  | 35  | Rep/Lean Rep  | 34  | 53  | Dem/Lea n Dem  | 21  | 68  | Note: Don Survey 't know ofu.s responses notshown.  | Source Survey ofu.s adults conducted April25-May 1, 2018.  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 