AFL-CIO Statement on Specter Joining the Democratic Party

AFL-CIO Statement on Specter Joining the Democratic Party
by Tula Connell, Apr 28, 2009
From AFL-CIO NOW Blog

Sen. Arlen Specter from Pennsylvania announced a short while ago he is switching from the Republican to the Democratic Party. Specter’s vote on the Employee Free Choice Act has been pivotal in determining whether the critical working families’ legislation will pass. Here’s AFL-CIO Legislative Affairs Director Bill Samuel on Specter’s announcement:

We look forward to continuing an open and honest debate with Senator Specter about the issues that are important to Pennsylvania and America. We move forward with the understanding that America’s workers support elected officials based on their positions on issues that matter to working people, not political affiliations.

This is a new day for the Employee Free Choice Act and labor law reform. Sen. Specter has said all along that he recognizes the need to reform our broken labor law system and we will continue to work with Congress to give workers back the freedom to form and join unions and pass legislation that stays true to the principals of the Employee free Choice Act.

The Employee Free Choice Act is built on three fundamental principles and we believe a bill that stays true to these will become law:

* Workers need to have a real choice to form a union and bargain for a better life, free from intimidation;
* We have to stop the endless delays; companies can’t just stall to stop workers’ choice;
* There have to be real penalties for violating the law.