Labor Day Hype or A True Shift?

A poll commissioned by the AFL-CIO has shown that for the first time ever (or at least, 1984, the first year employees were asked by the AFL-CIO) half the workers who don't already have a union say they would join one now if they had a chance. This is an 8% increase over last year's 42%. Not surprisingly, and probably linked, the same poll also reflected an increase in the negative view of those surveyed of corporations, with 39% having a negative view opposed to 30% who have a positive view. A 'whopping' (AFL CIO's word choice) 58% have a negative view of CEO's. For more see the AFL-CIO's press release. If those facts are really what people are believing, and there is certainly an anecdotal basis for them, then it seems that much more attention will need to be paid to traditional labor issues than in the near past.