Labor Day 2002 finds Americans worried about the economy and their jobs, skeptical about corporate America in the wake of months of scandal, and more open than ever to joining unions, according to an independent, national survey by Peter D. Hart Research Associates done for the AFL-CIO. The survey of 900 adults found significant swings in opinions—even from a year ago—toward the economy, corporate America and unions.

"Working Americans are anxious and struggling. Wages are stagnant, unemployment is up, and people are angry that they're losing their savings to a corrupt corporate system they thought they could trust," said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. "That's why more Americans than ever say they would join a union tomorrow to improve their lives if given the chance."

Americans are much more concerned about the economy and their jobs than they were last year. Only 38 percent say they are satisfied with the economy today, compared to 63 percent who reported being satisfied last year. As recently as last summer, workers felt more secure in their jobs than they had a couple of years earlier—that trend reversed with 44 percent saying they feel less secure, and only 34 percent saying they feel more secure. Nearly 70 percent of Americans think the rising costs of health care and prescription drugs is a serious problem.

Corporate scandals have left Americans angry at CEOs and skeptical about corporate America. As late as last year, Americans viewed large corporations more positively than negatively (42 percent positive, 25 percent negative.) Today that trend has reversed with people expressing more negative views (39 percent) than positive (30 percent.) This is the highest negative rating for corporations recorded over nine years of Hart surveys for the AFL-CIO. A whopping 58 percent have a negative view of CEOs, and the disaffection is bipartisan.

People don't trust their employers to treat them fairly, or to think about their security. Fully two-thirds say they trust employers just some or not much at all. A majority feel that corporations pursue profits at the expense of loyalty to employees, and 57 percent say that employers fall short when it comes to providing permanent jobs that offer benefits and job security - up from 46 percent in 1999.

For the first time since 1984 (when the AFL-CIO first asked) half of workers who don't already have a union say they would join a union tomorrow if given the chance. This is a full eight percentage points higher than in 2001 when 42 percent of workers without unions said they would join one. Among all workers—including union members—54 percent say they'd vote for a union tomorrow.

In addition, 74 percent of Americans say that employees in the new Homeland Security department should have the same job protections and rights to union representation as other federal employees.

Growing public distrust of corporations is likely to be a factor in November's elections, according to the survey results. By about two to one, people say that government is too concerned with what big corporations and wealthy special interests want. Voters are very interested in legislative initiatives to hold corporations accountable, such as protecting workers' pay and retirement in employer bankruptcy, and giving workers the same choices and protections in retirement plans that top executives enjoy. The survey also shows that support for privatization of social security is a political negative this year, costing a candidate more votes than it contributes.

The survey was conducted by telephone from August 10 to 12, 2002 among a representative sample of 800 adults, plus an over sample of 100 non-managerial workers. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percent for results among all adults, and plus or minus 4.7 percent for results among workers.

For copies, contact AFL-CIO Public Affairs, 202-637-5018.

For Information Contact: Lane Windham (202) 637-5018