Pew Poll: Only Wealthiest Income Bracket Sides With Gov. Walker Over Unions

[cal04]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/03/pew-poll-only-wealthiest-income-bracket-sides-with-gov-walker-over-unions.php

In the debate over whether Wisconsin state workers should have the right to collectively bargain for better benefits, there is at least one group that sides with Gov. Scott Walker -- people wealthy enough that they probably don't need collective bargaining rights themselves.

That finding comes from a Pew poll released this week showing more Americans siding with the unions over Gov. Walker in the budget showdown that has deadlocked the Wisconsin legislature and sent thousands of protesters streaming into the state capitol. And strikingly, while Americans overall took the unions' side in the poll, the highest income demographic was the only one in which more people said they stood with Walker over the unions.

Overall, 42% of respondents said they side more with the unions, while 31% took Walker's position. Among those with annual household incomes under $30,000, that split was considerably larger, with 46% supporting the unions, and only 20% supporting Walker. People earning $30,000 to $74,999 per year also backed the unions, 49% to 31%.

Yet among those earning over $75,000 per year, 36% said they backed the unions, while slightly more, 40%, said they stood behind Walker.

[old mark]

1. K&R- Class warfare, republican style....nt

[Hannah Bell]

2. not a surprise except that a substantial minority in the upper brackets side with labor.

[TomClash]

3. Not so surprising

Many of them get paychecks too. If the unions lose, it's curtains for just about everyone except the people getting dividend checks and capital gains.

[DBoon]

4. Some might even be union members

some very skilled and well paid professions are union

Many have family members in unions. Perhaps their parent's union job paid their way through law school

And some of us who aren't realize how precarious our paychecks are, and wish we had the backing of unions.

[TomClash]

5. All true especially in my town nt

[pscot]

6. Of course it's class war

The top 20% have got it all, want more and have their foot on our necks.

[upi402]

7. That's a fact

that our own damn party wont even acknowledge.

[Enthusiast]

8. Make $75,000 a year

and imagine yourself to be rich.