Sen. John Fetterman pushes invoice to increase meals stamps to placing employees

Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania is championing a invoice that may enable placing employees to qualify for meals stamp advantages, a transfer that coincides with high-profile labor disputes amongst Hollywood actors and writers.

Mr. Fetterman, a Democrat, mentioned present regulation excludes placing employees from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program except they have been eligible earlier than the strike. He mentioned union funds can backstop employees for some time, however it’s typically not sufficient.

“Every union worker who is walking the picket line this summer needs to know that we have their back here in Washington,” Mr. Fetterman mentioned. “The union way of life is sacred. It’s what built Pennsylvania and this nation. It is critical for us to protect workers’ right to organize, and that includes making sure they and their families have the resources to support themselves while on strike.”

It is unclear how a lot traction Mr. Fetterman’s invoice will get.

The Senate requires 60 votes to advance laws, Democrats maintain a slim majority and Republicans have usually seemed for tactics to curtail SNAP spending as an alternative of increasing it.

Mr. Fetterman mentioned his invoice — the Food Secure Strikers Act of 2023 — is cosponsored by a couple of dozen Senate Democrats and key unions, together with the United Food and Commercial Workers, Teamsters, National Education Association, Communications Workers of America, Food Research Action Center and Hunger-Free America.

UPS employees just lately averted a significant strike that may have crippled operations throughout the nation, and auto employees and resort staff are in key negotiations.