Marking a major blow to labor supporters, Republic Senator Arlen Specter announced he will not support the Employee Free Choice Act. Democrats were counting on Specter's vote to help avoid a Republican filibuster on the pro-union legislation. The Senator claimed that the current economic recession makes for bad timing on the bill, but added that he may reconsider his position if other attempts to bolster union power through amendments to the National Labor Relations Act fail. The announcement pleased business leaders opposing the Employee Free Choice Act, but is a unexpected setback to organized labor. The decision could open the floor to newer compromise legislation, like the recent proposal from Whole Foods, Costco, and Starbucks.
See "Key Senator Won't Support Union Bill", Kris Maher, The Wall Street Journal, March 24, 2009