WASHINGTON – A newly released survey conducted by GS Strategy Group for the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW), which is composed of hundreds of organizations focused on policies affecting employees, employers and economic growth, finds that a majority of South Carolina voters oppose the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act and view the heavy-handed influence of labor unions unfavorably.

 

• Statewide and in the Charleston area, more than six in 10 voters oppose the PRO Act when provided with basic facts about the legislation, including that it would force companies to turn over sensitive employee records, like cell phone numbers and home addresses, to union organizers.

 

• When presented with both sides of the argument, most South Carolina voters consistently side with opponents of the PRO Act and show concerns about its consequences for workers – including that it strips away workers’ privacy rights by granting unions access to an individual’s private personal data without their consent, allowing unions to harass and pressure workers to agree with their demands, as well as limiting individuals’ ability to work as independent contractors and taking away workers’ free choice in union elections.

 

• Unions have a trust problem in South Carolina, as more voters say unions rely on bad tactics and misinformation to pressure companies than say they can be trusted.

 

• In the Charleston area, more than twice as many voters (43.4 percent) say they would be less likely to vote for a candidate for Congress who supports the PRO Act, than say they would be more likely (just 18.6 percent).

“It’s clear that South Carolina voters oppose the PRO Act and have a negative view of labor unions’ heavy-handed tactics,” Kristen Swearingen, CDW Chair, said.  “From stripping workers’ privacy and sharing their sensitive personal data with union organizers, to limiting individuals’ ability to work as independent contractors, to taking away workers’ free choice in union elections, South Carolinians understand that the PRO Act is a radical proposal that puts big labor’s interests ahead of workers and small businesses in the Palmetto State.”

 

• To view the polling memo, CLICK HERE.
• To learn more about the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, CLICK HERE.