Why do a lot of blue collar union workers tend to vote republican?

Question

I'm speaking of the folks who are benfiting from their union wages and then vote conservative; to limit social programs in the guise of smaller government; by voting against taxes etc. Unions are social program designed to give the worker more security and a more livable wage. So why are those so selfish?

dopefish622
i only meant that it helps the social wellbeing of a union worker, but then I'm from Minnesota and have never been a union worker. I just see a lot of pick up trucks and the drivers always sound like republican conservative types. I could be wrong.

Answer 1

Perhaps the Republican candidate better represents their views. Additionally , I know many union members who would disagree strongly w your portrayal of unions as social programs

Answer 2

One of your key premises is false, namely that "Unions are social program designed to give the worker more security and a more livable wage." Unions are not social programs funded by the government. Unions exist and are formed independently of the government.

EDIT: Well if you re-define it that way, then they vote Republican for the same reason why anybody votes for any party at all: because in their opinion, it is in their self-interest to do so. I do not think it is fair to label that selfishness. Consider that many people are in unions involuntarily (i.e. they would not be able to hold a job in that particular field otherwise), and that the aims of the union in the realm of electoral politics are not necessarily the same as the individual union member.

Answer 3

Strange, I've never been in a union that supported a republican candidate. Think about this, unions, better pay, better health care coverage. It costs the company more to have union workers which cuts into the executive management profit. Unions aren't killing this country, greed for executive profits is the culprit.

Answer 4

I belonged to a TEAMSTERS local that did nothing for me but take my dues. the company did not want to deal with TEAMSTERS so sold out. The new company brought in their own drivers & all the union did fior me was charge me dues for a year after I lost my job. SOME SOCIAL PROGRAM// i drove for a none union company after that for 6 years. I made more money on that job then I ever did on the union one.They took my money & told me who I was to vote for.They only want your money & control of your life.

Answer 5

I have a feeling that many speak like a Republican, but vote like a Democrat. In other words, people tell others what they think they want to hear. When in the privacy of the voting booth, they vote their values.

Answer 6

The problem stems from they start to earn a steady pay check and start to think they are in the rich people category. They want to stop paying all the things that enabled them to get their job. They forget what got them there, people that die to get them the job, people that sat on picket lines, and ones that bore the hurt to get them the easy job good paying job.

Answer 7

Most blue colar people hate being forced to pay their money to unions. Obviously some of them are very inteligent people and realize that the conservative adjenda benefits everyone.

Answer 8

I don't know where you live, but here in NY, If you are union, you vote Democrat. The world is always diffrent then what you can observe.

Answer 9

The Republicans bribe them with beer?
Why does anyone vote the way they do? Ask them they know why they vote like they do.

Answer 10

Social issues & foreign policy mostly. Also many of them are doing well financially & don't want higher taxes.