Investigating generalized vs. case-by-case support for labor unions

Across industries, workers, and the general public, support for labor unions seems to be surging alongside falling membership and legislative losses. How do we understand these seemingly contradictory parallel trends? In four studies (N = 996), we find that support for unions is high in the United States. However, we find that support varies based on both individual and group level factors. Specifically, conservatism and system-justifying ideologies are negatively related to, while structural attributions for poverty are positively related to, union support. We also find left-right ideological differences in union support; conservatives are less likely to support unions overall (but are relatively more supportive of police unions) compared to liberals. In contrast, liberals are more supportive of labor unions than conservatives and are more likely to support teachers’ unions than police unions. Overall, support for unions is generally high but not generalized – worldviews, ideology, and type of labor, differentiate that support.