PITTSBURGH -- Several hundred union members yelled their support for the proposed bill in the U.S. Senate that many unions believe will make it easier to organize workers and gain labor contracts.

They gathered outside the Westin Hotel where state Democrats are holding their quarterly meeting.

The bill is also known as card check. Some union members said they're concerned about possible effects of a provision for a secret ballot.

Tamika Jackson, a Service Employees Union member, said, "With a secret ballot, they could try to prolong it as long as they can, to keep firing all the people that already signed cards."

When Senator Arlen Specter, who recently switched to the Democratic Party, addressed the crowd, a heckler held up a sign telling the senator, 'Our jobs matter too.'

Specter replied, "I believe you'll be satisfied with my vote on this issue about union organizing and about first contract."

The heckler, a retired iron worker, isn't sure of that.

"If he wants to be a Democrat, he's got to be a true Democrat. When I'm talking about Democrats, I'm not talking about unions. I'm talking about working people," said John Heinlein.

It's not clear when the U.S. Senate will vote on what organized labor calls the employee free choice act- if there's a vote at all. But one thing is sure, workers like these will be keeping up the pressure on elected officials.