CWA: Senate Rule Changes Critical to End Legislative Gridlock

CWA delegates called on the United States Senate to eliminate the archaic rules that have blocked critical legislation affecting working families and left important government positions empty because of abuse by the current Senate minority.

CWA and a growing number of unions and other organizations are determined to restore real democracy and end the rules that allow a minority of the Senate to block action.

"As the use of the filibuster has become routine, it has become increasingly rare for the Senate to consider legislation, approve nominations and pass annual appropriations bills," delegates said.

CWA President Larry Cohen noted that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed over 400 bills since January 2009 that will not be considered in the Senate in this term.

"We need to speak truth to power here. There is no hope of any meaningful restoration of private sector bargaining rights as long as we have these Senate rules. But today in the Senate, that bipartisanship is over, and we can't wait for miracles to save our bargaining rights and this labor movement."