Document Link: Former staffer files unfair labor practices charge against Sanders campaign

[lapucelle]

Reported by VT Digger:

Former staffer files unfair labor practices charge against Sanders campaign
The complaint, alleges the Sanders campaign failed to notify staffers that they had a collective bargaining agreement and maintained they could be fired without “just cause” for termination — called “at-will.”

The former employee accuses the campaign of requiring employees to work more than five days a week and of not paying collective bargaining guaranteed relocation fees. In addition, the individual claims three employees were fired for joining or supporting a union. The firings were designed to discourage employees from taking advantage of the collective bargaining agreement, according to the complaint.

Promised benefits, such as housing and reimbursement for expenses, were provided to some, but not all employees.

The union that represents Sanders’ campaign staffers, the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 400, “did nothing,” according to the employee, who plans to file a charge with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board against the union as well.

You can read the ten pages of complaint and complaint related documents here:

http://src.bna.com/Kbj


https://vtdigger.org/2019/07/26/former-staffer-files-unfair-labor-practices-charge-against-sanders-campaign/?utm_source=VTDigger+Subscribers+and+Donors&utm_campaign=5861a7bebe-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_07_27_09_17&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_dc3c5486db-5861a7bebe-405785677

[PatrickforO]

1. Interesting. One thing about Obama that we could tell during his campaign,

all the way through the primaries and the general election - he was seriously organized, and was a very good manager. He also had very few leaks.

An unfair labor practices charge implies a certain level of chaos. Once you go union, you have to abide by union rules.

[betsuni]

2. K&R

[NurseJackie]

3. I'm glad this information is finally getting out and seeing the light of day.

[thesquanderer]

15. Well, at least one side of it has. (n/t)

[Hassin Bin Sober]

4. Oh no, Bernie! They are on to you!

The guy who actively encouraged the employees to unionize is anti union!

Lol. No.

[George II]

8. He didn't actively encourage them, they did it on their own. But that sounds good.

[lapucelle]

13. Management doesn't have any power "to agree to let" employees form or join a union.

The formation of labor unions is governed by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) of 1935. This Act secures workers' abilities to bargain as a group instead of individually. The NLRA prohibits employers from firing and disciplining workers for trying to organize labor. For the most part, employers cannot ban or discriminate against pro-union employees. If the employees want to be represented by a Union, they are free to make that choice.

https://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/employers-rights-and-unions.html


Was union protection one of the points of discussion in the January meetings with the whistle blowers?

The United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 confirmed that Sanders’ campaign workers were the first to win union representation.

“We expect this will mean pay parity and transparency on the campaign, with no gender bias or harassment, and equal treatment for every worker, whether they’re in Washington, D.C., Iowa, New Hampshire or anywhere else,” UFCW Local 400 President Mark P. Federici said in a news release.

Working on political campaigns at any level often involves grueling hours and low pay. And recently, workers on some campaigns have been pushing to unionize.

Earlier this year, Sanders apologized to female staffers on his 2016 presidential campaign who said they had experienced sexual harassment from male staffers. The New York Times had reported allegations of unwanted sexual advances, as well as pay inequity.

https://www.apnews.com/be93d7afe8e942728fd828832d202e7c

[Vegas Roller]

20. yellow teeth

ugh

[yaesu]

5. seems like i've seen this posted before

like 100 times

[lapucelle]

10. There were hundreds of posts with links to the actual NLRB unfair labor practices documents?

http://src.bna.com/Kbj

[George II]

11. It's a developing story.

[left-of-center2012]

6. This keeps getting posted and reposted

I'm still waiting for the investigation.

Accusations aren't proof,
whether or not you like Bernie.

[lapucelle]

14. I haven't seen the actual NLRB documents posted before.

I saw them today for the first time.

http://src.bna.com/Kbj

[lapucelle]

7. The BS campaign is not ridiculing the employee's unfair labor practices complaint.

“We are committed to cooperating with the NLRB and we are confident that they will find the campaign honors all of its employees’ rights to both the letter and spirit of the law. Sen. Sanders and the campaign believe all workers should have a strong voice on the job and the right to due process, including the right to petition to the NLRB,” the campaign added.

It's possible that the complainant neglected to read the fine print in his contract, assuming that as an employee he automatically had certain rights had union protection when he was in reality an "at will worker".

A spokesperson for the campaign said the campaign’s union contract includes a probationary period in which workers are “at-will” for a period of time before receiving full union protections.

https://vtdigger.org/2019/07/26/former-staffer-files-unfair-labor-practices-charge-against-sanders-campaign/?utm_source=VTDigger+Subscribers+and+Donors&utm_campaign=5861a7bebe-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_07_27_09_17&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_dc3c5486db-5861a7bebe-405785677

[George II]

9. First the $15/hour kerfuffle, now this. SMH.

[lapucelle]

12. I think the lesson is to read the fine print in employment contracts.

Apparently the complainant assumed he had protection concerning his wages and hours.

A spokesperson for the campaign said the campaign’s union contract includes a probationary period in which workers are “at-will” for a period of time before receiving full union protections.

An important lesson when dealing with management:

Forget the hype. Read the fine print.

[Gothmog]

16. From my twitter feed

Link to tweet

?

[lapucelle]

22. I hate it when they say "anonymous" when they really mean "undisclosed".

This was not an anonymous complaint to the NLRB.

The NBLB redacted his name to protect his identity.

[oasis]

17. Not to worry. Bernie will lay it all out for us in the debates.

[Vegas Roller]

19. He will do much more

He will also send a tweet about how the "establishment" is behind it because it fears him.

[Vegas Roller]

18. This is what hypocrisy looks like

especially from the self-appointed champion of the working class.

[NYMinute]

21. This is not going to go away

This dashes hopes of Bernie Sanders of expanding his base beyond the devoted core.