MNPL Action: Lawmakers Sit Down With Machinist & Aerospace Union Members to Talk About Airline Relief

IAM District 141 members in Pennsylvania organized meetings via Zoom last week with two members of Congress: Representative Chrissy Houlihan from the 6th Congressional District and Representative Mary Gay Scanlon, from Pennsylvania’s 5th District, which includes the Philadelphia Airport area.

The conversation revolved around the uncertainty in Congress concerning the extension of the Payroll Support Program. Both congresswomen are strong advocates for aviation workers and have spent countless hours working on an additional round of COVID relief legislation. 

Rep. Houlihan talked about her involvement in the Problem Solvers Caucus, a group of 25 Democrats and 25 Republicans who work to find common ground to help pass bipartisan legislation that benefits their constituents. Rep. Scanlon expressed her frustration as she witnessed the failure of a motion for unanimous consent from Rep. Peter DeFazio for a PSP extension bill. “It seems everything is dysfunctional there,” she said about the disconnect between negotiators from the administration and the Republican leadership in Congress.

Kim Krasnai, Committee Secretary and Educator for Local 1776 described to the congresswomen the dire situation of our Brothers and Sisters who are on furlough. “The {furloughs} already happened. I have people on the street now wondering how they’re going to make it.” 

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