Oregon Votes Card Check for Public Workers

Oregon is about to become the latest state to give public workers the freedom to form unions through card check.

"The right to organize played a critical role in building our middle class. If a majority of employees want to form a union, Oregon will respect that choice. It's just common sense," Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney said.

The measure passed 17-13 in the state Senate and 34-24 in the House, which will vote on it again after reconciling several differences between its version and the Senate bill. Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski has promised to sign it.

Oregon AFL-CIO President Tom Chamberlain said that in addition to e-mails, letters and phone calls from workers around the state, more than 300 people actively lobbied the legislature "often telling their stories of abuse at the hands of employers."