The Maritime Trades Department is joining with the rest of the AFL-CIO in calling on the United States Senate to pass voting rights legislation.
“Advancing voting rights is how we defend America against those who want to tear workers apart,” stated AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “Mobilizing on voting rights is also how we can take on the filibuster, which has been used for generations to block progress for workers.”
Any action on two bills – the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act – has been stalled by the threat of a filibuster, which under current Senate rules calls for 60 senators to declare they are willing to allow either measure to simply be debated.
The AFL-CIO has noted dozens of states in recent years have modified their voting laws to make the process of casting a ballot more difficult or to replace nonpartisan election officials with those professing support for only one side.
“Voting is a fundamental right,” added MTD President Michael Sacco. “We encourage our members to be involved, to know the issues and to meet the candidates. We don’t care what party they belong to. We just ask them to stand up for the workers and their families that elected them.”
The AFL-CIO has launched a petition campaign. To add your name, click here.