The Wilmington morning star., 1947-04-11
BY GEORGE GALLUP
Director, American Institute of
Puglic Opinion

pugllc opinion
PRINCETON, N. j., April 10
viii e frequently condemnine
strikes and criticizing the tactics
Of unions and union leaders. the
American public by no mean con-
siders the gentlemen who sit on
the other side of the bargaining
table - employers as fautIess.
In fact, the general public
sninks there r just about as
many things wrong with employ
sTs as there are with unions.
This is shown in the results of
a co~ast-to-oast survey in which
voters were asked their opinions
as to the chief faults Of employers
tn this country. Respondents listed
almost as many shortcomings in
answer to this question as they
did when asked a similar cues
ton about the faults of labor
Unions.
The chief complaint against en-
soyers was not what you might
expect - low wages. TO be sure
complaints about wages ranked
high up among the leading gripes,
But by actual count in the poll,
more people named a broader.
more inclusive fault. 1t is sum-
med up in one reply. from a white
collar worker in a Pittsburh steel
company whose comment was
typical OF thousands in the sur :
vey:
Management hasn't got enough
understanding of working people
and their problems. Businessmen
keep thinking OF labor as a com
modify instead of as human be-
ings. The reason people join
unions is because they feel that
the boss won't pay any real at
tention to the welfare of the work
ars if left to himsef. He's got 70
be forced to do things
Another worker interviewed put
his case this way:
1T isn't wages I'm complaining
about. Sure I'd like more pay, just
like everybody else. But what
sripes me more is the way they
drive you. II you want to take the
wife and kids on a vacation you
get no pay. If you're half an hour
late to work you get docked. The
Mushrooms stink. The company
cafeteria serves rotten food. If the
company would just stop and
think that all us workers are hui
man beings and want to be treat
Cd decently, l think they'd gel
more work out OF us, and pro-
baby better work too
Throughout most Of the faults
listed by the public the general
theme of lack of human under
standing by employers required
again and again.
The second fault of employers,
In the eyes Of the public, is that
they don't want to pay enough in
wages.
They're greedy for profits
SAYS a Manhattan textile worker,
land high wages cut down on pro
fits. SO they do all they can to
beat you down and pay you as
Nttle as possible"
The next fault cited is that en-
oloyers expect too much of their
Workers-that hours are too long
and that production requirements
per hour too stiff,
A fourth fault is that manage
ment doesn't reward ability. The
argument here. is that a man VINO
does a good efficient job receives
nc more recognition than n who
Just does average work. Conse-
euently, it is claimed, good work
ers lose initiative.
There's no point in doing you1
best" says a Detroit machine too
worker, because you don't gel
any more money. Might as well
take it easy"
Failure to give bonuses fo1
GOOD work is singled out tol
specific mention by some people
polled. Others criticize employers
who have not set up pension funds
to take care of their employer
when they become too old tc
work.
Miscellaneous criticisms of EN-
ployers include: discrimination a.
sainst women workers, refusal Il
give fair consideration to en-
ployee suggestions for improving
machinery or operations, lack OF
honesty toward employees n n
showing profits, and attempts te
weaken and undercut labor
unions. .
1t seems clear that the general
public finds many shortcomings II
me behavior of management.