WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressmen Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Donald Norcross (D-NJ) announced the creation of the Labor Caucus Nov. 13, intended to advance the needs of the labor movement, combat the issues facing working families, and connect legislators directly with unions and union leaders. The new caucus will be organized by union members of Congress — Representatives Pocan and Norcross are both decades-long union members in the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), respectively.
“President-Elect Joe Biden’s new administration gives the Democratic Party the opportunity to reprioritize working families at the center of our legislative agenda,” said Congressman Pocan. “Under Donald Trump, we’ve seen the erosion of labor rights, rise in union-busting, and the prioritization of corporate profits over working people’s livelihoods and safety. In the 117th Congress, we must reaffirm our dedication to strengthening unions and helping works by urgently passing legislation like the PRO Act and the Raise the Wage Act. It’s time for working people to have a voice in Congress again.”
Pocan represents Wisconsin’s District 2, which includes Green, Lafayette, Iowa, Dane and Sauk counties, plus parts of Rock and Richland counties. He won his re-election race over Peter Theron. Pocan received 318,487 votes (69.7%) to Theron’s 138,293 (30.3%).
Norcross said that labor has shaped his life, as he once worked on construction sites and now is in congress.
“Every American worker should have the opportunity to earn a fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work, and working families deserve a bigger voice in Congress. I look forward to working together with our brothers and sisters in Labor to pass legislation for American workers and their futures,” Congressman Norcross said. “While the Trump Administration has tried to diminish labor rights, President-Elect Joe Biden’s incoming Administration understands the dignity of work and that workers’ rights are human rights.”
It is absolutely imperative that we return this country back into the hands of working people and the Labor Caucus will do just that, said Shane Larson, Senior Director for Government Affairs and Policy at the Communications Workers of America.
“Congressman Pocan and Norcross are card-carrying union members and we are proud to support their efforts to prioritize workers’ rights and the labor movement in Congress. The Democratic Party has long been the party of unions and working families, and the Labor Caucus will ensure that legacy endures in every Congress to come,” Larson said.
