AFL-CIO on Specter's No Vote on EFCA: 'A Rebuke to Working People'

[babylonsister]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/03/afl-cio-on-specters-no-vote-a-rebuke-to-working-people.php

AFL-CIO on Specter's No Vote: 'A Rebuke to Working People'
By Elana Schor - March 24, 2009, 5:23PM


AFL-CIO President John Sweeney just released a statement responding to Sen. Arlen Specter's (R-PA) announcement that he would oppose the labor-backed Employee Free Choice Act -- and the labor chief isn't backing down from the "death blow" framing that's already being applied to today's news.

In fact, Sweeney's remarks are all the more cutting because of their high-minded commitment to keep amassing support for the Employee Free Choice measure, which is labor's No. 1 priority for the year and would broadly ease union-organizing rules. No matter how you look at it, Specter can forget about getting the state AFL-CIO's endorsement for the second straight election cycle.

Sweeney's full statement is posted after the jump.

Today's announcement by Sen. Specter - a sponsor of the original Employee Free Choice Act who voted for cloture in 2007 - is frankly a disappointment and a rebuke to working people, to his own constituents in Pennsylvania and working families around the country.

The fact is the Employee Free Choice Act has more support than ever -
large majorities in both houses of Congress, the President and Vice
President, 73 percent of the public. We will continue to work with
Democrats and a number of Republicans to create commonsense solutions to
the decades of corporate power.

We do not plan to let a hardball campaign from Big Business derail the
Employee Free Choice Act or the dreams of workers.

There are deep flaws in our labor laws, as Sen. Specter acknowledged
today. The freedom to join together and bargain with employers for fair
wages and better benefits is critical to rebuilding our middle class -
and now is exactly the time to do it, as we begin to revive our economy
in a way that works for everyone. In the coming weeks, we will be
escalating our campaign and finding the best ways forward to a balanced,
strong economy.

[Thrill]

1. Watch Reid, all of a sudden put the EFCA on the schedule

Specter just covered the ass of Democrats scared to vote for it

[babylonsister]

2. I didn't know it was off the schedule.

Honestly, Reid didn't want to vote on this?

[Thrill]

3. It was never scheduled

[babylonsister]

4. I didn't know that, but isn't Reid in favor?

Got this in an e-mail today, and they're going after Feinstein. :shrug:

Edit to add, nevermind. This could be just for CA.


http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/WhichSideSenator

Which side is Senator Dianne Feinstein on?
Tell Senator Feinstein to join the rest of the California Democratic Congressional delegation in co-sponsoring the Employee Free Choice Act

The Employee Free Choice Act is an essential piece of our national economic recovery program. It allows workers to organize a union more easily and free from employer interference, giving them the power to more successfully negotiate with large corporations to protect the middle class during this severe recession. It is one of the most important pieces of progressive legislation in 2009. President Barack Obama supports it, as do most Democrats, including Senator Barbara Boxer.

Senator Feinstein, however, has refused to take a position on the bill -- even though she co-sponsored it and voted for it in 2007.

As large corporations and conservatives mount a campaign of misinformation and lies to discredit the Employee Free Choice Act, we need Senator Feinstein to declare whose side she is on - the side of working Americans facing economic peril and wanting to organize unions to rebuild the middle class, or the corporate bosses that want to exploit them?

Please sign this letter to Senator Feinstein as soon as possible:

more...

[Thrill]

5. Its a mystery. I don't think Pelosi has it scheduled either

[deaniac21]

6. For many a yes vote would not go over well with their constituency.

Even George McGovern is campaigning against it. Taking away the secret ballot is not Democratic.