1 / 24

Public Opinion Research Among New Members

A. S. S. O. C. I. A. T. E. S. HART. RESEARCH. Public Opinion Research Among New Members. Key findings from a survey conducted June 7-9, 2011 for. Research Goals. Discover new members’ most important reasons for joining Understand new members’ perceptions of the union

lenora
Download Presentation

Public Opinion Research Among New Members

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. A S S O C I A T E S HART RESEARCH Public Opinion Research Among New Members Key findings from a survey conducted June 7-9, 2011 for

  2. Research Goals • Discover new members’ most important reasons for joining • Understand new members’ perceptions of the union • Ascertain new members’ intent regarding continued membership • Identify the reasons new members’ find most compelling to remain a member

  3. Methodology • 600 telephone interviews with members who have joined since November 2010 • including 534 members who have joined since January 1, 2011 • Interviews conducted June 7 – 9, 2011

  4. Education Employees Are Satisfied With Conditions; Instructors Less So Than ESPs Overall Satisfaction with Working Conditions All New Members Instructors ESPs 72% 58% 52% 47% 41% Fairlysatisfied Just some-whatsatisfied 28% Verysatisfied 29% 41% Not that satisfied 18% 24% 21% 11%

  5. BUT, Their Strong Sense Is That The Situation Is Getting Worse Change in Situation for Education Employees Past One/Two Years All New Members Instructors ESPs 84% 75% 63% 22% 15% 9% 7% 4% 2% Gettingbetter Stayingsame Gettingworse Gettingbetter Stayingsame Gettingworse Gettingbetter Stayingsame Gettingworse

  6. Table Of Contents • The Decision To Join • Impressions Of The Union • Involvement With The Union • Choosing To Stay A Member

  7. I. New Members’ Volunteered Reasons for Joining Tell The Same Story What were the biggest factors in your decision to join the union that represents employees where you work? Instructors 21%ESPs 13% 18%14%9%8% 8% 8% Political climate/legislature/governors trying to destroy union They fight for us/protect us/take care of us/have our backs To keep my job, job security, to protect my job To protect our benefits, our pension Legal coverage, legal backing, legal services, liability insurance To protect our rights, bargaining rights

  8. I. News Reports And Talking With People About Membership Had The Most Influence On Decision Which one of these had the most influence on your decision to join union? All New Members Instructors ESPs News reports about the legislative session Talking with people about union membership Materials from the union, including letters, flyers, and e-mails None of these 38% 38% 10% 13% 44% 33% 8% 14% 29% 44% 13% 13%

  9. I. New Members Joined To Take A Stand Against Education Cuts And Politicians % saying each played a very important role in their decision to join the union Instructors ESPs Fight against education cuts/legislation threaten-ing our salaries, rights Take stand against politicians trying to take working people's rights Time to do my part to make union stronger Benefits/services, such as liability insurance, legal/staff representation Union was offering free dues for three months Tired of union recruiters hounding me: wanted them to leave me alone

  10. I. Most New Members Talked With Someone From The Union About Membership Which of the following types of people, if any, did you talk with when you were making up your mind about whether to join the union? I talked with: No/not sure Yes, I talked with someone A union member A building rep or steward A union staff person A union officer

  11. I. Two of Five New Members Had Not Previously Been Asked To Join Among those who have been at their job for two years or more Before this year, had anyone personally asked you to join the union? How many times were you asked to join? No Yes Once Twice Threetimes Four +times

  12. II. A Majority Of New Members Know Just Some Or Very Little About Their Union How much do you feel you know about your union? Know a great deal Know very little 17% Instructors25% ESPs Know a fair amount 43% 57% Know just some

  13. II. Most New Members Feel Well Represented By Their Union, But One Of Ten Feel The Union Is Doing A Poor Job How well do you feel you are represented by your union?* 61% Very well 27% 23% Instructors33% ESPs Not well represented(1+2 ratings*) Well represented(4+5 ratings*) Mixed feelings (3 rating*) *ratings on a five-point scale, 5 = very well represented

  14. II. New Members Say The Union Is Visible And Active In The State Capitol In the state capitol, my union is: All New Members Instructors ESPs Visible/active Invisible/inactive Some ofboth

  15. II. New Members Say The Union Is Strong And Effective In The State Capitol When it comes to standing up for education employees in the state capitol, my union is: All New Members Instructors ESPs Weak/ineffective Some ofboth Strong/effective

  16. III. New Members Feel They Have A Responsibility To Get Involved Perspective on Being Involved with the Union The only responsibility a member has is to pay their dues, and as long as their dues are paid they have done their part Not sure/both equally Members have a responsibility to get involved with their union, because having members involved with the union makes it stronger 9% Instructors14% ESPs

  17. III. Only One In Three New Members Got Involved; Those With High Union Knowledge and Contact More Likely To Be Involved Did you get involved in the union’s efforts to lobby the state legislature and influence the most recent legislative session? Not sure 43% High union knowledge41% High steward contact No Yes 38% Instructors30% ESPs

  18. III. New Members Are Willing To Consider A Range Of Activities % saying they would consider doing each activity Instructors ESPs All new members Attend 10-minute information meeting at work Talk with co-worker about union issues or membership Participate in union community events (food drive, walks) Contact legislators about issues Attend union-sponsored training/ profess. develop. Contribute to union’s political action Serve on union leadership at work

  19. IV. Most Plan To Stay For At Least The Next Year, But A Significant Number Admit They Are Not Likely To Remain Members Likelihood of Remaining Union Member for at Least the Next Year 84% Very likely 75% 88% Instructors 81% ESPs Very/fairly likely Just somewhat/ not likely

  20. IV. Members Who Are Not Very Likely To Remain Members Volunteer The Expense As Their Top Concern What doubts or concerns do you have about remaining a member? What are the drawbacks to union membership? Expensive, costs, dues, price, money, financial reason Not active, not effective, have no influence on legislature Retiring, leaving the district, changing/changed positions Lost teaching position/not knowing if will be re-hired/unemployed Lack of knowledge about union/not knowing what they would do for me 31%12%6%6% 4%

  21. IV. Identifying The New Members Who Are Least Likely To Remain With Union % saying they are just somewhat/not likely to remain a member for the next year Tenure with employer: One year/lessTwo to five years Six years/longerMember Type: InstructorESPJoin Date: Nov/Dec Jan/Mar:April/June 11%20% 11% 11%16% 12% 10%16% DemocratsIndependentsRepublicansWhitesAfrican-AmericansHispanicsAge 18 to 34Age 35 to 49Age 50/over 11%14%22%14%9%12%17%9%14%

  22. IV. Joining Together To Protect Education Is Most Convincing Reason To Remain A Member % saying message was very convincing reason to stay member Instructors ESPs

  23. Key Take-Aways • New members joined to take a stand against politicians and education cuts. • They believe that members have a responsibility to be involved – not just pay dues. • Most new members know little about their union and are not involved. • Within some groups of new members, as many as one in five are unlikely to remain in the union unless they are engaged.

  24. A S S O C I A T E S HART RESEARCH Public Opinion Research Among New Members Key findings from a survey conducted June 7-9, 2011 for

More Related