Forty-five percent (45%) of Americans believe that labor unions make our country weaker, while just 26% say unions make the nation stronger.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 13% believe organized labor has no impact on America, and 16% are not sure.

Nearly one-out-of-two Americans (48%) also think unions have outlasted their usefulness. Twenty-nine percent (29%) disagree, and 23% are undecided.

Maybe that’s because 36% say Americans workers don’t work as hard as people in other countries. Thirty percent (30%) say people in America work harder, and 22% say they work about the same as those in other lands.

Still, those who have a favorable view of labor unions edge those with an unfavorable opinion by seven points – 49% to 42%. Sixteen percent (16%) view unions very favorably, but 18% have a very unfavorable view.

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Seventy-six percent (76%) also say they buy products made in the United States to support American labor.

Men are more critical of unions than women. Fifty-eight percent (58%) of men, for example, say unions make America weaker, compared to 33% of women. Fifty-nine percent (59%) of men say unions have outlasted their usefulness, a view shared by just 36% of women.

Given the longtime allegiance of organized labor leaders to the Democratic Party, it’s not surprising to find that 55% of Republicans think labor unions make the country weaker and 63% say unions have outlived their usefulness. What is perhaps surprising is that Democrats themselves are almost evenly divided on these questions. The plurality of adults not affiliated with either party agree with Republicans.

In terms of favorability, however, 64% of Democrats have a positive view of unions, while 60% of Republicans view them unfavorably. Unaffiliated adults are closely divided on the question. (see crosstabs)

The overall favorable/unfavorable numbers for unions have remained unchanged for months. But the number who have a favorable view is down six points from a year ago at this time.

Union leaders and some Democrats in Congress are pushing for legislation that would make it easier to form a union by eliminating the need for a secret ballot vote in a workplace where there is a organizing campaign going on. But only 30% of Americans say it is fair to form a union without having a secret ballot vote, while 52% do not believe it is fair.

The United Auto Workers union and the federal government are now the majority owners of General Motors under the bankruptcy bailout plan to keep the automaker in business. Just 18% of Americans think they will do a good job running the company.

Fifty-nine percent (59%) of Americans celebrate Labor Day as the unofficial end of summer. Only 28% celebrate the original purpose of the holiday to honor the contributions workers, particularly in organized labor, have made to society.

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See survey questions and toplines. Crosstabs are available to Premium Members.