Specter key in card check legislation

If Arlen Specter felt his ears burning Wednesday night, he could have blamed supporters of the Employee Free Choice Act who, during a roundtable discussion of the bill, called out the Pennsylvania senator for failing to support it. "The one guy holding it up is Arlen Specter," said Bucks County Central Labor Council president Tom Bates, during an event at Bristol Township's Newportville Fire Company headquarters. "We have to get him back on our side." Specter, who switched his party affiliation to Democrat in April, co-sponsored a 2003 version of the so-called "card check" legislation but he opposes the current bill. Democrats, who support it, had hoped that Specter's vote would give it the 60 it needs to stop a Senate filibuster. "If it passes the Senate, we have the votes in the House,'' said Congressman Patrick Murphy, D-8. "The whole ballgame is in the Senate. We welcomed him into the Democratic Party. We need him to fight for working families." The Employee Free Choice Act would let workers form a union when a majority of company employees sign a card requesting one. Currently, workers must vote to unionize in a secret-ballot election run by the national Labor Relations Board. The measure would also impose stronger penalties on employers who violate labor laws. Proponents say the act would protect workers from intimidation by their employers, who typically oppose unionization efforts. Opponents, however, say ditching the secret ballot process opens up employees to intimidation by union organizers. Murphy pointed out that, according to the National Labor Relations Board, workers filed three complaints against employers for every complaint filed against the unions over the last five years. The bill's detractors, which include local and national chambers of commerce, also argue that with so many businesses struggling to stay afloat in a tough economic climate, now isn't the time to pass legislation that will cost many employers money by increasing salaries and benefits as well as the cost of hammering out contracts. "I try to work with the chambers of commerce and with small business," Murphy said. "We can be at the same table. But sometimes you have to pick a side. You know where I stand." John D'Angelo III, president of Atlantic County-based Synergistic Healthcare, said that not all businesses oppose card check legislation. He said he believes it will help the economy by providing middle class workers with job security and higher salaries. That, he said, would give rise to consumer confidence and boost spending. That would help businesses. D'Angelo acknowledged, however, that reasoning only holds true for businesses selling consumer-bought products and services. During Wednesday's round table discussion, which lasted about 90 minutes, union members talked about being intimidated by their employers during organizing drives but stressed that voting "yes" to the unions helped them achieve a more stable lifestyle and develop their trades through apprenticeship programs.