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Legislation & Policy

Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Calls on the State Senate to Seat Senator Jim Brewster Immediately

HARRISBURG, PA- Today, the State Senate GOP announced its refusal to seat Jim Brewster, the elected state senator from the 45th district.  The officers of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, President Rick Bloomingdale, and Secretary-Treasurer Frank Snyder issued the following joint statement: “Today, 66,261 voters of the 45th District have been silenced by 26 GOP members in the Commonwealth’s State Senate.  Senator Brewster is the state-certified victor in the 2020 election.  Whether the Republican party likes it or not, they must abide by the decision of the working women and men of the 45th district and respect our democracy.  Those who have been elected to represent Pennsylvanians must respect Pennsylvania voters.  Today’s decision subverts democracy and tarnishes the legitimacy of our General Assembly.  The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO calls on the State Senate to seat Senator Brewster immediately.”    ### Media Contact: Samantha Shewmaker, 717-917-0538 Read More

PA AFL-CIO Hosts 2020 Energy Summit

Pennsylvania has long had the most diverse energy portfolio in the country.  Leading the way in energy production, our Commonwealth has a legacy of keeping the lights on for tens of millions of families across the Mid-Atlantic region.   Union leaders gathered together this week to discuss the future of energy production, carbon capture, nuclear and renewable energy, and the highly-skilled union workers who keep our lights on.  We also recognize the importance of affordable broadband high-speed internet access as a critical part of our Commonwealth’s infrastructure.  This extraordinary development in our communications infrastructure should be available to all Pennsylvanians, regardless of where they live or how much they make.  The officers of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO were joined by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, Governor Tom Wolf, Kris Anderson International Representative IBEW, Martin Williams National Coordinator of State Legislative Affairs IBB, Ed Mooney Vice President CWA, Stephen Bennett PJM Interconnection, Nikki Budzinski Climate Jobs National Resource Center, Jake Smeltz, and participants from multiple affiliate unions. Read More