AFSCME’s Saunders on Labor Day Gallup poll: ‘It’s time to organize’

WASHINGTON — Gallup released its annual Labor Day poll today, which shows 71% of Americans now approve of labor unions, the highest rate since 1965. AFSCME President Lee Saunders issued the following statement in response:

“The overwhelming majority of Americans understands what unions bring to the table: higher wages, safer working conditions, lifesaving benefits, job security, and dignity and respect. This is what comes from having a protected voice on the job. And they know that working people – the front-line heroes who brought our economy back from the brink – deserve a seat at the table.

“It’s time to organize. From cultural institutions to Starbucks to Amazon, the soaring popularity of unions has translated into a surge in workplace organizing – in the first nine months of 2022 alone, union petitions filed to the NLRB increased by almost 60% from the previous year. But petitions are just the first step. The fact is, too many employers still get away with vicious union busting and silencing the voices of their workers. To change this, we must channel support for unions into votes for pro-worker candidates up and down the ballot.”