ERIE, PA – Pennsylvania U.S. Senator John Fetterman swung through Erie County on Monday, where he stopped by the county’s annual Senior Fair and headlined a rally to stand in solidarity with striking Wabtec workers.
Sen. Fetterman first visited State Representative Ryan Bizzarro’s annual Senior Fair & Older Living Expo, where he met with constituents and promised to protect Social Security, Medicare, and seniors’ right to live with dignity in their own homes.
At the rally, Senator Fetterman met with union members, local elected officials, and constituents, and delivered remarks. He spoke on the history of the unions in America, praised the hard work of union members and their importance in the labor force and economy, and stressed the need for fair wages and benefits.
“It’s the fundamental bargain that they have, that if you create wealth, they get a share in that and that’s what it is. And the fact that they haven’t gotten a raise since 2016 is outrageous. They deserve what they deserve,” said Senator Fetterman.
Senator Fetterman is a longtime advocate of organized labor and strongly supports the union way of life. Just last month, he introduced the Food Secure Strikers Act of 2023, legislation to allow striking workers to qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
Several high-profile strikes are currently taking place in Pennsylvania and across the country. In addition to the nearly 1,400 Wabtec workers who have been on strike since late June, workers with Communications Workers of America at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and workers with the Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild nationwide are all on strike.
