Effort to Eliminate Collective Bargaining Would Fail

Public employee unions in California have little to worry about from the proposed ballot measure by businessman Tim Draper, that aims to eliminate collective bargaining. Fewer than 1/3 of voters support the proposal.

QUESTION: Here is a ballot initiative that may be facing California voters in 2022, “Eliminates collective bargaining for teachers, police officers, nurses, firefighters, and other public employees. Initiative Constitutional Amendment. Eliminates collective bargaining between state/local governments and labor organizations (including unions) representing teachers, police officers, nurses, firefighters, and other public employees about wages, benefits, hours, labor disputes, or other work conditions. Requires the Governor-appointed State Personnel Board to establish wages and benefits for state employees. Prohibits new or amended public-employee labor agreements, including extensions, but does not impact existing agreements. Authorizes state/local governments to provide up to 12 months of severance pay to employees who resign within three months of measure’s enactment.” If the election were held today would you vote yes or no on this measure? 

There is no demographic group that supports the takedown of public employee unions.

The full text of the proposed ballot initiative can be found on the Secretary of State’s website here.

Our multi-mode poll was conducted by telephone and online among 900 California voters from November 12 – 18, 2021. A survey of this size yields a margin of error of +/-3.3% and a 95% confidence level. This survey question was not sponsored by a third party, the results are being released for public interest.

Probolsky Research is a non-partisan Latina- and woman-owned research firm with corporate, election, government, and non-profit clients.