Specter to oppose union card-check measure

WASHINGTON, March 25 (UPI) -- Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said he will oppose a bill that would make it easier for workers to unionize, delivering a blow to organized labor's top priority.

During a speech from the Senate floor Tuesday, Specter said he was concerned that the bill would eliminate union organizing elections by secret ballot and that a recession was the wrong time to increase business costs, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Wednesday. Specter's support was seen a critical to avoid an anticipated Republican filibuster on the so-called card-check legislation.

"It is a very emotional issue, with labor looking to this legislation to reverse the steep decline in union membership and business expressing great concern about added costs which would drive more companies out of business or overseas," Specter said.

Specter's announcement came as the veteran lawmaker faces a likely primary challenge from former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., who came within 2 percentage points of beating Specter in a 2004 primary, the Inquirer said.

GOP conservatives are angry with Specter over his vote for U.S. President Barack Obama's $787 billion stimulus in February.

John Engler, National Association of Manufacturers president, lauded Specter's decision to oppose legislation Engler said would "destroy jobs and make our country less competitive," the newspaper said.

AFL-CIO president John Sweeney called Specter's position "a disappointment and a rebuke to working people ... ."