Poll shows support for organized labor

CBS News Poll analysis by the CBS News Polling Unit: Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Fred Backus and Anthony Salvanto.

Updated 7:40 p.m. ET

As debate rages in Wisconsin and other states over limiting the power of unions, a new CBS News/New York Times survey finds that many Americans are siding with organized labor.

Fifty-six percent say they oppose cutting the pay or benefits of (largely unionized) public employees to reduce state budget deficits, while just 37 percent favor doing so. And 60 percent oppose eliminating some collective bargaining rights for public employee unions, while just one in three Americans supports that idea.

"The poll shows public opposition to broad measures that would reduce the compensation of public employees or curtail their ability to negotiate through collective bargaining, even when placed in the context of helping to reduce state deficits and balance state budgets," said CBS News Director of Surveys Sarah Dutton.

(Watch Dean Reynolds' report on the poll from the CBS Evening News at left)

Americans are split on the motivations of those seeking to reduce public employee benefits. Forty-five percent - including 59 percent of Republicans - say that those trying to reduce the benefits are mostly motivated by reducing budget deficits. But 41 percent - including nearly half of Democrats and independents and a majority of union households - said the goal was actually primarily to weaken the power of unions.

Asked what they would be willing to do to reduce their state's budget deficit, 40 percent said they would increase taxes. Only 22 percent chose decreasing public employee benefits. Another 20 percent chose decreasing funding for roads, and 3 percent chose decreasing funding for education.

Views of Unions and Public Employees

The poll suggests that Americans have a net positive view of labor unions. Thirty-three percent have a favorable view, compared to 25 percent who hold an unfavorable view. Thirty-nine percent are undecided or haven't heard enough.

And the percentage of Americans who say labor unions have too much power has declined. In 1981 - not long after the air traffic controller controversy - 60 percent of Americans said unions had too much power. By 2009, that figure had fallen 13 points, to 47 percent.

In the new CBS News/New York Times survey, it is down another 10 points, to 37 percent. (While 61 percent of Republicans say unions have too much power, just 22 percent of Democrats agree.) Twenty-nine percent in the new survey said unions have the right amount of power, and 19 percent said they have too little power.

In a finding that could explain why Americans oppose reductions to cutting the pay or benefits of public employees, less than two in five say public employees are overcompensated. Thirty-six percent say the salaries and benefits of most public employees are too high, while a majority say they are either too low (25 percent) or about right (36 percent). 

Before the survey was released, CBS News asked New Jersey Republican governor Chris Christie to comment on its finding of support for public employee unions.

"I'm the governor, I think I've got a better idea on public opinion in my state than CBS News does to tell you the truth," he said. "If not, Katie Couric should run for governor of New Jersey." (watch at left)

Speaking Sunday on CBS' Face the Nation Christie said he supported "fair and reasonable" collective bargaining rights for public service employees in New Jersey, but rights "didn't come down from tablets at the top of a mountain."

"What I believe in is true, adversarial collective bargaining," he said. "What I've said in New Jersey is, as long as it's fair and reasonable collective bargaining." He maintained that individual states have to make their own determinations on the issue.

(Watch CBS News Director of Sarah Dutton on Washington Unplugged at left)

Read the Complete Poll

This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.