Union members will still CHECK off Specter
Tuesday, May 5th, 2009
By: Shai Ben-Yaacov
sben-yaacov@whyy.org
The newest member of the Democratic party, Senator Arlen Specter, is enjoying the support of Pennsylvania union households. The support comes despite Specter's opposition to legislation called Card Check, that would make it easier for employees to form unions.
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The Employee Free Choice Act, or EFCA, would allow employees to form a union simply by having a majority sign on to the idea. Labor advocates say this system would make it easier for laborers to form unions.
Specter has said he'll oppose the legislation even as a Democrat, and a new Quinnipiac University poll says 57% of Pennsylvania union households aren't phased by Specter's stance.
Bill George is President of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO.
George: He told Jim Hoffa Jr. and I that he was willing to look at a re-evaluation based on some changes that would take place, so we're excited about having that opportunity to have that discussion with him.
The poll also shows 14% of union households approved of Specter's opposition to EFCA, and 27% disapprove.