Is it common practice for Congressional staff to throw away letters from constituents hoping to have their voices heard? That's what some of Sen. Arlen Specter's staff threatened to do to thousands of Pennsylvanians who support the freedom to form unions and bargain.

 Specter, who once co-sponsored the Employee Free Choice Act before he flipped on the bill last month and announced he would support a minority filibuster to prevent it from coming to a vote.

 Despite once saying he was "delighted" to support it, Specter now is advancing falsehoods about the bill, parroting the extremist charge that it would take away the secret ballot process, which it would not.

 In response, thousands of union members, community activists, religious and civil rights leaders and other members of the broad coalition in support of the Employee Free Choice Act have taken action across the state to make their voices heard. In the past two weeks, they have held seven rallies outside of Specter's offices in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Harrisburg, Erie, Wilkes-Barre and Scranton. Supporters of the Employee Free Choice Act have gathered more than 50,000 letters, 35,000 postcards and 12,000 petitions from Pennsylvanians who support the freedom to form unions and bargain.

 Specter's staff grew increasingly aggressive at every event, Pennsylvania union members report. At Specter's Wilkes-Barre office, where union members and allies delivered thousands of letters and petitions, USW member Tim Waters reports that they were told by a staffer, "as soon as you leave your letters will go straight in the trash."

IBEW Local 1600 recently participated in three separate events.  President Ettl, VP Graboski, Business Reps Joe Pancheri, Dan Zerbe and Mark Chronister attended a rally outside of the Hotel Bethlehem. Lehigh's Dave Binder spoke to Specter at Muhlenberg College.  Recording Secretary Cas Riepensell, Steward Dave BInder, Editors Ralph Cuevas and Mary Ann Anthony attended a forum at Local 375 to hear the plight and results of an employee who tried to help bring in a union at the now-defunct Lehigh Valley DHL.  Several other forum participants provided interviews "behind closed doors" for fear of retaliation from their employers should they find out employees are attempting to bring a union into their company. Media was present at all events. If you are interested in participating at any events or want to start a write in or phone bank campaign in support of the Employee Free Choice Act, call Cas Riepensell at 484-695-2258.

The bottom line with Senator Specter --- These are Pennsylvania residents whom the senator represents. This is the way you treat your constituents?

 Hundreds of Pennsylvanians took time out this week to make their feelings known to their Senator, bringing with them postcards, letters and petitions from tens of thousands of supporters of the Employee Free Choice Act.

 They deserve a respectful hearing.