Strike Tracker: Which Elected Officials Are Speaking Out For Workers?

We're tracking which congressmembers are speaking up for striking workers. You can help.

January 18 2021

We’re tracking whether members of Congress and state elected officials have issued statements in support of workers in their state/district who are on strike.

Please help us complete our coverage — send updates and new statements to [email protected].

Kroger workers on strike

Location: Colorado

Name	State	Party	Statement
Gov. Jared Polis	CO	D	“I don’t cross the picket line, and I hope that the workers are able to negotiate better safety, better healthcare, better wages. Most of all as a Coloradan, I hope that both sides can get this done quickly for the convenience of Coloradans who want to shop again at King Soopers and are inconvenienced.” — 1/18/22
Sen. Michael Bennet	CO	D	“I heard from grocery store workers with [UFCW Local 7] on the picket line this afternoon about their fight for fair and safe working conditions. Everyone deserves to be safe at work, and fairly compensated.” — 1/17/22
Sen. John Hickenlooper	CO	D
Rep. Diana DeGette	CO	D	“I stand with you [UFCW Local 7] members! Please remember, do not cross their picket.” — 1/12/22
Rep. Joe Neguse	CO	D	“Proud to stand in solidarity with [UFCW Local 7] as they strike for fair wages & safe working conditions. Remember, don’t cross the picket line until the strike is over.” — 1/13/22
Rep. Lauren Boebert	CO	R
Rep. Ken Buck	CO	R
Rep. Doug Lamborn	CO	R
Rep. Jason Crow	CO	D	“We are always stronger when we stand together. Thanks to @brothajeff for donating meals to the [UFCW Local 7] workers who are fighting for fairer wages. I helped deliver food to the picket line and let these essential workers know that we stand with them.” — 1/18/22
Rep. Ed Perlmutter	CO	D

Jon Donaire workers on strike

Location: Santa Fe Springs, CA

Name	State	Party	Statement
Gov. Gavin Newsom	CA	D
Sen. Dianne Feinstein	CA	D
Sen. Alex Padilla	CA	D	“Mr. Rich: Your employees have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic, keeping production lines moving at breakneck speeds and fueling company profits. Meanwhile, your employees are falling further and further behind economically. Your employees deserve better. We urge you to bargain in good faith with the union and agree to a fair contract as soon as possible.” — In a letter to owner Bob Rich Jr. 1/12/22
Rep. Linda Sánchez	CA	D	“Congresswoman Sánchez supports the Jon Donaire bakery workers in their fight for better working conditions and fair wages. Our office has been in touch with some of the striking workers and the Congresswoman plans to continue monitoring the situation closely.” — spokesperson from the Office of Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez 1/19/2022

Strikes in 2021

Kellogg’s workers on strike

Locations: Battle Creek, MI; Omaha, NE; Lancaster, PA; Memphis, TN

Name	State	Party	Statement
Sen. Gary Peters	MI	D	“As contract negotiations continue at Kellogg, I encourage you to work in good faith, as you have in the past, to ensure workers are compensated with wages and benefits that reflect the true value of their hard work — and ensure the workforce can continue to serve our nation.” — Letter to Kellogg’s CEO 10/25/21
Sen. Debbie Stabenow	MI	D	“Your unionized workforce deserves wages, health care, and retirement benefits that reflect their value to your company, their communities, and the nation. Although this strike has lasted over three weeks, I am encouraged by recent reports that both sides will be meeting this week to resume bargaining. It is my sincere hope that new meetings will result in a breakthrough and produce a long-term contract that will allow Kellogg to retain its high-quality workforce and ensure its workers get the wages and benefits they deserve.” — Letter to Kellogg’s CEO 11/01/21
Rep. Peter Meijer	MI	R	His office told us “he has not issued a statement.” — 10/19/21
Sen. Deb Fischer	NE	R
Sen. Ben Sasse	NE	R
Rep. Don Bacon	NE	R	“I respect the rights of workers to organize and strike and with the challenges currently facing the supply chain, I hope the employees and Kellogg’s can quickly come to an amicable agreement.” — 10/18/21
Sen. Pat Toomey	PA	R
Sen. Bob Casey	PA	D	“For decades, corporations have systematically chipped away at workers’ fundamental right to organize and collectively bargain. Now wages are stagnant and working families are struggling to make ends meet while corporations earn record profits. I support workers using their voice to advocate for higher wages, better working conditions and a secure retirement. It’s time to re-level the playing field for workers by passing the PRO Act and restore fairness to our economy that has been rigged against workers for too long.” — 10/21
Rep. Lloyd Smucker	PA	R
Sen. Marsha Blackburn	TN	R
Sen. Bill Hagerty	TN	R
Rep. Steve Cohen	TN	D	“This morning, I stood with striking members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Union fighting for higher wages and pensions for new hires, and preventing jobs from being shipped to Mexico, among other things. They went out on strike around the country on Tuesday. Unions created the middle class and it is important to keep them strong.” — 10/8/21

John Deere workers on strike

Locations: Iowa (Ottumwa, Davenport, Ankeny, Dubuque, Waterloo); Illinois (East Moline, Moline, Milan); Kansas (Coffeyville)

Name	State	Party	Statement
President Joe Biden		D	“My message is that they have a right to strike and they have a right to demand higher wages. And the companies they’re striking on are doing very well. I’m not going to get into the negotiation, but my message is: If you think that’s what you need, then you should do it.” — 10/15/21
Sen. Chuck Grassley	IA	R	“For many yrs I was a factory worker & union member & did go on strike as a part of that experience The Deere workers & their families now face a stressful situation I hope good faith bargaining can bring the dispute 2swift conclusion for the good of all parties & our Iowa economy” — 10/15/21
Sen. Joni Ernst	IA	R	“Senator Ernst is monitoring the latest on the situation.” — Sen. Ernst spokesperson, 10/15/21
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks	IA	R	“John Deere has employed thousands of Iowa families for decades and has been a boost to the Iowa economy. I hope business and labor can rapidly find common ground that benefits each other and we can continue being a shining example of what a hard days work means.” — 10/17/21
Rep. Cindy Axne	IA	D	“Our workers are the backbone of our economy – and they deserve the pay & benefits that provide them a middle class life and retirement. That’s why I stand in solidarity with the hard-working members of @UAW as they begin their strike for a fair contract.” — 10/14/21
Rep. Ashley Hinson	IA	R
Sen. Dick Durbin	IL	D	“I’m worried about it. We don’t need a strike at a major employer like John Deere. I hope they can work it out in the closing hours.” – 10/12/21
Sen. Tammy Duckworth	IL	D
Rep. Cheri Bustos	IL	D	“Unions helped build the middle class. As UAW workers strike, I stand with them & support their right to demand compensation they believe is fair. John Deere is an important part of the fabric of the Quad-Cities community – I hope both sides are able to reach a fair agreement.” — 10/15/21
Sen. Jerry Moran	KS	R
Sen. Roger Marshall	KS	R
Rep. Jake LaTurner	KS	R

St. Vincent nurses on strike

Location: Worcester, MA

Name	State	Party	Statement
Sen. Elizabeth Warren	MA	D	“We urge Tenet to listen to and act on the concerns of St. Vincent nurses. This is a patient safety issue, but it’s also about our values. We respect our nurses, we deeply appreciate everything they have done for our community during this challenging year, and we stand unequivocally with them in their fight for patient safety and fairness. We remain ready and willing to help in any way we can to resolve this situation in a fair and equitable way.” — Sens. Warren, Markey, and Rep. McGovern, 3/21
Sen. Ed Markey	MA	D	See joint statement above
Rep. Jim McGovern	MA	D	See joint statement above

Warrior Met coal workers on strike

Location: Brookwood, Alabama

Name	State	Party
Sen. Tommy Tuberville	AL	R
Sen. Richard Shelby	AL	R
Rep. Terri Sewell	AL	D

Heaven Hill bourbon distillery workers on strike

Location: Bardstown, Kentucky

Name	State	Party
Sen. Mitch McConnell	KY	R
Sen. Rand Paul	KY	R
Rep. Brett Guthrie	KY	R

Mercy Hospital workers on strike

Location: Buffalo, NY

Name	State	Party	Statement
Sen. Chuck Schumer	NY	D	“I stand with CWA Local 1133 workers walking the line in Western NY. Adequate staffing is essential for high quality health care and frontline worker safety.” — 10/7/21
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand	NY	D	“I’m proud to stand with the workers of @CWAUnion Local 1133 who are striking to ensure patients receive high-quality care and to keep our frontline health care workers safe.” — 10/8/21
Rep. Brian Higgins	NY	D	“Today we stopped by Mercy Hospital in between meetings to support the @CWADistrict1 #Strike4PatientCare Nurses play an essential role in the care economy which is facing increased demands. A fair contract is needed to support the workforce we rely on to care for this community.” — 10/7/21