Michigan State University's 64th round of the State of the State Survey finds that state citizens are evenly split over the state's new status as a right to work state. The Michigan Legislature passed historic new laws as 2012 ended. The survey inquiried of about 1,000 people during the first quarter of 2013.

1. State of the State Survey:
y
Michigan Residents Sharply
Divided Over Right to Work Law
Right-to-Work
Charles L. Ballard
L
Professor, Department of Economics
Director, State of the State Survey
Di t St t f th St t S
Institute for Public Policy and Social Research
ballard@msu.edu
517.353.2961
517 353 2961

2. Background:
Labor Unions Have Been
Losing Strength For Decades,
Decades
In Michigan and Across the
United States.

3. Union Members as a Percent of the Labor Force,
1964‐2011
50
45
40
35
Michigan
30
25
Louisiana
20
15 United States
10
5
0
Year

4. In December 2012, the
Michigan Legislature Passed
a Law to Make Michigan the
24 th “Right-to-Work” State.
Many Expect This Will Further
Reduce Union Membership.

5. State of the State Survey
Round 64
Winter 2013
1,013 Interviews Completed
, p
January 14, 2013 – March 4, 2013

6. • 42.7% of Michigan Residents Said They
Believe the Right-to-Work Law Will Help
the Economy.
• 41% Said It Will Hurt.
• That’s a Statistical Tie.
That s

7. Michigan Residents' Views of Whether the Right‐to‐Work Law Will
h d ' f h h h h k ll
Help or Hurt the Economy
30
25.5
25 22.5
18.5
20 17.2 16.3
nt
Percen
15
10
5
0
Help A Lot Help A Little No Effect Hurt A Little Hurt A Lot

8. Union Members Were
Considerably Less Optimistic
than Those Who Are Not a
Union Member.

9. Michigan Residents' Views of Whether the
g
Right‐to‐Work Law Will Help or Hurt the Economy, By Union Membership
80 73.7
70
60
46.4
50 42.7
Percent
41.0
37.1 Help
40
P
Hurt
30
20 12.3
10
0
Statewide Not Union Member Union Member

10. Attitudes by
Race and Gender
R dG d

11. Views of Michigan Residents
by Race and Sex
State of
Men Women Whites Blacks
Michigan
Right‐to‐Work Law Will
42.7% 49.6% 36.1% 45.4% 24.9%
Help the Economy

12. Attitudes by Political Party

13. Views of Michigan
Residents
by Political P
b P li i l Party
State of
Republican Independent Democrat
Michigan
Right-to-Work Law Will
42.7% 74.2% 42.3% 24.8%
Help the Economy

14. Attitudes by
Attit d b
Whether the Respondent
h h h d
Supports Governor Snyder
S t G S d

15. Views of Michigan Residents
by Support for Governor Snyder
State of Snyder Snyder Snyder Snyder
Michigan “Excellent” “Good” “Fair” “Poor”
Right‐to‐Work
Law Will 42.7% 74.0% 64.2% 41.7% 18.2%
Help the Economy

16. Attitudes by
Attitudes by
Political Ideology
Political Ideology

17. Views of Michigan Residents
by Ideology
State of Very Very
Liberal Moderate Conservative
Michigan Liberal Conservative
Right‐to‐Work
Law Will Help 42.7% 10.9% 20.9% 42.3% 57.8% 62.6%
The Economy

18. Regional Attitudes Show a
Large East‐West Divide

19. Views of Residents from
Vi f R id t f
Different Regions in Michigan
Wayne,
State of City of SEMCOG Grand Rapids
Oakland,
Oakland,
Michigan
i hi Detroit
i Regiona
i Areab
Macomb
Right-to-Work
Law Will Help 42.7% 32.4% 37.5% 38.2% 52.6%
The E
Th Economy
a Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties
b Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, and Ottawa Counties
c Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties

20. Attitudes b
Attit d by
Household Income

21. Views of Residents by
Vi f R id t b
Household Income
Income Income Income
State of Income Above
Below
Below $50,000 to
$50,000 to Above
Above
Michigan
i hi $150,000
$
$20,000 $100,000 $100,000
Right-to-Work
Law Will Help 42.7% 33.2% 42.5% 45.9% 48.3%
The E
Th Economy
a Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties
b Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, and Ottawa Counties
c Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties

22. How to Learn More about SOSS:
http://ippsr.msu.edu/SOSS/
Charles Ballard: ballard@msu.edu
517.353.2961
Cynthia Kyle: kylec@msu.edu
517.353.1731
Graham Pierce: gp
glpierce@msu.edu
@
517.884.0364

23. THANK YOU!