1. Public Opinion Polls Chapter 1 discusses the effect that public opinion may have on the labor relations process. Public opinion polls can provide an indication of the backing or support by the public during a strike.

The Gallup Organization’s Web page, which requires a subscription to read most of their full reports, provides abstracts to the results of polls conducted by the organization. The abstracts can provide some insight into the attitudes of the public on labor issues. Go to the Gallup page and determine if the public backed the UPS workers or the company during the strike of 1997.

The Harris Poll provides portions of their reports without charge on the Harris Interactive page.

Search for the site for the results of a 2005 poll on American adults’ attitudes toward labor unions.

What positive things did the majority of the adults interviewed credit labor unions with doing? How have attitudes changed since a similar survey was conducted in 1993?