On Thursday, the Senate voted 56-43 to retain a new law regarding labor organizing in the railroad and airline industries. the new rule, passed by the National Mediation Board this May allows a union to form if the majority of workers voting vote for the union. The previous rule counted all those who did not vote as 'no' votes. making it hard for unions to organize. The new rule brings the railroad and airline industries more in line with the rest of the industries. Opponents of the rule say that the new rule favors unions, will cause labor strife, lower pay too many work rules, and that this decision should rest with Congress, not the National Mediation Board. President Obama had said that he would veto the measure if it passed.
See "Senate rejects bid to overturn new union rule", Sam Hananel, September 23, 2010