New Congress begins with influx of worker-friendly members

​The 116th Congress features a diverse group of members who are more friendly to working people than their predecessors in recent Congresses, reports the AFL-CIO. It includes a dozen union members and even more worker-friendly members. Union members in the 116th Congress include Senator Jacky Rosen of Nevada, who’s a member of UNITE HERE; Representative Ed Perlmutter of Colorado, a Laborer, and Representative Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, a CWA member. Other unions whose members are now representing working folks in Congress include the American Federation of School Administrators, the American Federation of Teachers, the Ironworkers, the Electrical Workers, the National Writers Union, Public School Employees and AFSCME. The National Football League Players Association is on the field as well, sending Representative Colin Allred of Texas. And while the new Congress starts their term, more than 800,000 people working for the government -- including at least 100,000 in the DMV -- are going without paychecks because of the shutdown. Take action now. Tell your elected officials that it’s time to stop the shutdown.

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