michigan evenly divided over right-to-work

State of the State Survey: yMichigan Residents Sharply

Divided Over Right-to-Work LawDivided Over Right to Work Law

Charles L BallardCharles L. BallardProfessor, Department of Economics

Di t St t f th St t SDirector, State of the State Survey

Institute for Public Policy and Social ResearchInstitute for Public Policy and Social Researchballard@msu.edu

517 353 2961517.353.2961

Background: Labor Unions Have Been Losing Strength For DecadesLosing Strength For Decades,

In Michigan and Across the United States.

Union Members as a Percent of the Labor Force, 

45

501964‐2011

35

40

Michigan

20

25

30Michigan

Louisiana

10

15

20

United States

0

5

Year

In December 2012, the Michigan Legislature PassedMichigan Legislature Passed a Law to Make Michigan the 24th “Right-to-Work” State.

Many Expect This Will FurtherMany Expect This Will Further Reduce Union Membership.

State of the State SurveyRound 64Round 64

Winter 2013Winter 20131,013 Interviews Completed, p

January 14, 2013 – March 4, 2013

• 42.7% of Michigan Residents Said They Believe the Right-to-Work Law Will HelpBelieve the Right-to-Work Law Will Help the Economy.

• 41% Said It Will Hurt.

• That’s a Statistical Tie.That s a Statistical Tie.

h d ' f h h h h k llMichigan Residents' Views of Whether the Right‐to‐Work Law Will Help or Hurt the Economy

25

3025.5

22.5

20

25

17.2 16.318.5

22.5

nt

10

15

Percen

0

5

0Help A Lot Help A Little No Effect Hurt A Little Hurt A Lot

Union Members WereUnion Members Were Considerably Less Optimistic than Those Who Are Not a Union Member.Union Member.

Michigan Residents' Views of Whether the 

80 73.7

gRight‐to‐Work Law Will Help or Hurt the Economy, By Union Membership

60

70

40

50

60

42.746.4

41.037.1

Percen

t

Help

30

40P Hurt

10

20 12.3

0Statewide Not Union Member Union Member

Attitudes by R d G dRace and Gender

Views of Michigan Residentsby Race and Sexby Race and Sex

State of Michigan Men Women Whites Blacks

Right‐to‐Work Law Will Help the Economy 42.7% 49.6% 36.1% 45.4% 24.9%

Attitudes by Political Party

Views of MichiganResidents

b P li i l Pby Political PartyState of Michigan Republican Independent Democrat

Right-to-Work Law Will Help the Economy 42.7% 74.2% 42.3% 24.8%

Attit d bAttitudes by h h h dWhether the Respondent 

S t G S dSupports Governor Snyder

Views of Michigan Residentsby Support for Governor Snyderby Support for Governor Snyder

State of Michigan

Snyder“Excellent”

Snyder “Good”

Snyder“Fair”

Snyder “Poor”

Right‐to‐WorkLaw Will Help the Economy

42.7% 74.0% 64.2% 41.7% 18.2%

Attitudes byAttitudes by Political IdeologyPolitical Ideology

Views of Michigan Residentsby Ideologyby Ideology

State of Michigan

VeryLiberal Liberal Moderate Conservative Very

Conservative

Right‐to‐WorkLaw Will Help The Economy

42.7% 10.9% 20.9% 42.3% 57.8% 62.6%

Regional Attitudes Show a Large East‐West Divide

Vi f R id t fViews of Residents from Different Regions in Michigan

State of i hi

City of i

Wayne, Oakland, SEMCOG

iGrand Rapids 

bMichigan Detroit Oakland, Macomb Regiona Areab

Right-to-Work Law Will Help Th E

42.7% 32.4% 37.5% 38.2% 52.6%The Economy

a Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties

b Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, and Ottawa Counties

c Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties

Attit d bAttitudes by Household IncomeHousehold Income

Vi f R id t bViews of Residents by Household Income

State of i hi

Income Below

Income$50,000 to

Income Above Income Above 

$Michigan Below $20,000

$50,000 to $100,000

Above $100,000 $150,000

Right-to-Work Law Will Help Th E

42.7% 33.2% 42.5% 45.9% 48.3%The Economy

a Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties

b Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, and Ottawa Counties

c Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties

How to Learn More about SOSS:

http://ippsr.msu.edu/SOSS/

Charles Ballard: ballard@msu.edu517.353.2961

Cynthia Kyle: kylec@msu.edu517.353.1731

Graham Pierce: glpierce@msu.edug p @517.884.0364

THANK YOU!