A 51–48 Senate majority backed the Employee Free Choice Act today, but Republican opposition killed the bill’s chance to move forward. The 51–48 vote means the Senate voted for what is known as cloture or shutting off debate. Sixty votes were needed to shut off debate and move to vote on the full bill. So even though a majority of the Senate voted for cloture, a small group of Republicans denied workers a free choice to join a union. Without passage of the bill, America’s workers will continue to face unchecked employer harassment and intimidation when they seek to form a union.

The freedom of workers to join a union now becomes a presidential campaign issue. Click here to see what the candidates from both parties have to say about the Employee Free Choice Act.