LABOR REMAINS IN POLITICS

In: Dissent: a journal devoted to radical ideas and the values of socialism and democracy, Band 32, Heft 2, S. 154-156

Abstract

WHETHER OR NOT THE IDEA EVER HAD ANY VALIDITY, NO ONE COULD ARGUE PLAUSIBLY AFTER NOVEMBER 6 THAT LABOR IS THE LEADER OR VANGUARD OF THE PEOPLE. BUT THIS MUCH CAN BE SAID: AFL-CIO MEMBERS GAVE THE MONDALE-FERRARO TICKET A BIGGER SLICE OF THEIR VOTE THAN THE WHOLE ELECTORATE GAVE RONALD REAGAN IN HIS SWEEPING VICTORY. A NATIONAL POLL OF AFL-CIO MEMBERS SHOWED 61 PERCENT FOR MONDALE, 39 PERCENT FOR REAGAN. THIS MAY COME AS A SURPRISE TO MANY WHO HEARD ACCOUNTS AFTER THE ELECTION SUGGESTING THAT ORGANIZED LABOR HAD WON BARELY HALF THE VOTES OF ITS MEMBERSHIP. THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE THE TV NETWORKS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CBS, POLLED UNION HOUSEHOLDS BUT NOT UNION MEMBERS-AND EVEN IN THE LATTER CASE TEAMSTERS UNION MEMBERS AND OTHERS WHO HAD ENDORSED REAGAN WERE INCLUDED. WHEN THE CBS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL QUERIED UNION MEMBERS, THEY FOUND 57 PERCENT WERE FOR MONDALE, 41 PERCENT FOR REAGAN.