CWAers Pack Hearing to Support Temporary Senator in Massachusetts

Red was the word outside and inside the Massachusetts State House, where CWAers packed a hearing to support the appointment of a temporary interim senator.

CWA members from five Massachusetts locals jammed a hearing at the State House where a legislative committee was debating a bill to appoint a temporary interim Senator to fill the seat of the late Senator Edward Kennedy. Wearing CWA red, members filled an entire section and made it clear that Massachusetts working families need two senators to represent them, especially in these critical times.  

The biggest contingent of any union, more than 50 CWA members from Locals 1300, 1301, 1302, 1400 and 81201 made sure that their voices were heard. "With the passing of Senator Kennedy, Massachusetts has only one U.S. senator and Massachusetts working families have only partial representation during critical fights in the Senate on health care reform and the Employee Free Choice Act," said Don Trementozzi, president of Local 1400.

"We could be just one vote short of the 60 votes we'll need in the Senate to get legislation passed this year. We need full representation as soon as possible," said Lynda Nordyke, president of Local 1302.

The state legislature's Joint Committee on Election Laws is considering a bill that will allow the appointment of a temporary senator who would serve until the special election scheduled for next year.