Public Divided on Whether Security Workers at Airports Should Be Employees of Private Companies

Between October 26-28, 2001, Ipsos-Reid Express interviewed a representative sample of 722 US adults nationwide by telephone. The margin of error is +/- 3.7%. Just like the government, the public is split on the issue of whether security workers at airports should be employees of private companies or federal government employees. In Congress, Democrats want all workers -- from security screeners to luggage screeners -- to be federal employees. These federal employees would likely become unionized. The Bush White House and Congressional Republicans want federal supervisors regulating private security firms. Overall, 49% of Americans agree with President Bush and Congressional Republicans that airport security workers should be employees of private companies, supervised and trained by the federal government and 44% agree with Congressional Democrats that airport security workers should be federal government employees. These results are the same for both men and women. Both Republicans and Democrats are more likely to follow the party line, supporting their leaders in Congress. Independents are more likely to say that airport security workers should be employees of private companies rather than federal government employees. People from Labor Union households are more likely than Republicans to favor private security companies.

• Contact: Thomas Riehle, President Ipsos-Reid U.S. Public Affairs 202.463.7300 [email protected]