"Arlen has always been with us on the bread and butter issues."
- Bill George, President of Pennsylvania AFL-CIO
"The underlying theme to my long years of public service has always been my efforts to push government to treat ordinary citizens with justice, fairness and equality."
- Senator Arlen Specter
"He stood up for us when he was a Republican, he's standing up for us as a Democrat. Now it's our turn to stand up for him. This is not the time for an apprentice; this is the time for a skilled journeyman."
- Ryan Boyer, Business Manager, Laborer's District Council
of the Metropolitan Area of Philadelphia and Vicinity
Endorsed in 2010 by unions representing more than 1.1 million workers in PA:
- Pennsylvania AFL-CIO
- PSEA
- Philadelphia Building Trades Council and 8 Western PA Building Trades Unions
- SEIU
- Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters
- UAW
- United Transportation Union
- Pittsburgh and Scranton Federation of Teachers
- Workers United
- International Longshoremen's Association District Council of Philadelphia
Senator Specter's accomplishments in the Senate:
- Economic Recovery. Senator Specter cast a key vote for President Obama's Recovery Act to avert the risk of a repeat 1929 Depression. That bill provided $16 billion for Pennsylvania and will produce 143,000 jobs for our state's working families.
- Employee Free Choice Act. Senator Specter supports legislation to provide for speedy union certification and last best offer arbitration to obtain the first contract.
- A right to a decent wage. Senator Specter has voted to increase the minimum wage 20 times since entering the Senate in 1981.
- Prevailing wages for workers on federally funded construction projects under Davis-Bacon. Since 1982, Senator Specter has voted 22 times for Davis-Bacon.
- Unemployment insurance. Senator Specter has consistently voted to extend unemployment insurance. He successfully urged the Pennsylvania State Senate in July of 2009 to use stimulus funds to extend unemployment insurance coverage.
- Fair trade. Senator Specter voted against CAFTA and Singapore trade agreements and against permanent normal trade relations with China.
Championing US Steelworkers. As a leader of the Senate Steel Caucus, Senator Specter has testified on behalf of American workers on dozens of occasions to fight against unfair trade practices of China and other trading nations. Recently, Senator Specter testified against China's predatory trade policies at an International Trade Commission hearing in December of 2009, emphasizing the need to protect the jobs of those who make tubular steel used in drilling for oil and gas.
- Workplace safety. As former chairman or ranking member of the LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee Senator Specter successfully sought and won an increase in OSHA's budget of 54 percent. At the same time, he helped kill proposed cuts in workplace safety programs and restored funds for job training and enforcement efforts.
- Mine safety. Senator Specter helped win an additional $50 million for mine safety inspections and enforcement provisions in the Mine Safety and Health Administration.
- Transportation funding. Senator Specter has worked to ensure that Pennsylvania receives its fair share of Federal transportation funding for highways, transit systems, airports, and rail lines.
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