Union Political Action: The Member Speaks

As old as the efforts of trade unions to exercise political influence are the questions: Should unions attempt to influence the voting decisions of their members? Do unions have a significant effect on the political beliefs and actions of their members? Both issues are still unresolved and still debated as strongly as ever. In this article, results of research into the attitudes of members of a large Midwestern union on these issues are reported. The authors find that the conflict of opinion as to the propriety and effectiveness of union political action is as marked among rank-and-file union members as among persons outside of the labor movement. (Author's abstract courtesy EBSCO.)