Resurgent Republic

The idea that public employees have gold-plated benefits packages is, in a flagging economy, potentially toxic, prompting some public officials to address the issue head on.

In one prominent example, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie kicked off a firestorm of protest when he proposed that the state’s teachers begin making contributions to their pension plans. So far Christie, who is refusing to back down despite threats from teachers’ union officials, seems to be winning the argument because, with national unemployment near 10 percent and federal and state deficits at record levels, folks who are tightening their belts at home are put off by what they view as the selfishness of public employees who refuse to give even an inch.

Labor Union Favorability Declines

Filed under Resurgent Republic Blog posted February 24, 2010

Fewer people hold a favorable opinion of labor unions today than did three years ago, and the drop in public opinion is more than 10 percentage points in nearly all demographic groups, according to a new Pew Research survey. Forty-one percent have a favorable opinion of labor unions, a 17 point decrease, while 42 percent hold an unfavorable opinion, an 11 point increase.