Questions - Wisconsin Public Employees - March 7, 2011

Wisconsin State Survey of 500 Likely Voters
Conducted March 7, 2011
By Rasmussen Reports

1* In the dispute between the governor and the union workers, do you agree more with the governor or the union for teachers and other state employees?

2* Do you favor or oppose a proposal to weaken the collective bargaining rights of state employees?

3* Suppose that public employee unions and elected state officials agree to a union contract with a pay raise for state workers that would increase state government spending. Should such a contract require voter approval before it can be implemented?

4* Suppose that public employee unions and elected state officials agree to a union contract with an increase in pension benefits that would increase state government spending in the future. Should such a contract require voter approval before it can be implemented?

5* Suppose someone joins the police force at age 20 and stays for 25 years until they retire at age 45. Should that person receive a full pension for life at age 45 or should  that person find another job and wait until they retire at around age 65 to receive their full pension?

6* Suppose someone becomes a teacher right out of college and stays for 30 years until they retire at age 52. Should that person receive a full pension for life at age 52 or should that person find another job and wait until they retire at around age 65 to receive their full pension?

7* The Wisconsin Education Association, a teachers union, created a not-for-profit insurance company called the WEA Trust. The purpose of the WEA Trust is to provide insurance, and retirement and investment services to Wisconsin public school employees and their families. Is it good thing for the state or a bad thing for the state that the union has formed a non-profit insurance company like the WEA Trust?

8* Under current law, local school districts can enroll their teachers in the same the same health insurance program that is provided for Wisconsin state workers. As part of the collective bargaining process, should unions have the right to negotiate lower pay raises for teachers in exchange for better insurance coverage than is available to state workers?

9* Suppose that the local teachers union and school board agree to a union contract that provides local teachers with better insurance coverage than is available to state workers. Should such a contract require voter approval before it can be implemented?

10* As part of the collective bargaining process, should unions be allowed to require a local school district to buy health insurance coverage from the union created insurance company?

11* Some people claim the WEA Trust transfers money to the union that created it through marketing contracts and other business relationships. The WEA Trust says it does not transfer money to the union for political purposes. If a union is negotiating with a school district over who should provide health insurance coverage, should the union be required to disclose all financial relationships between the union and the WEA Trust?

NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence