Has the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 400 come out with any demands...

[WeekiWater]

that would protect their members from a repeat of the harassment that was prevalent in the last campaign?

[ehrnst]

1. Wondering if that's the impetus behind staffers unionizing in this particular campaign. (nt)

[NurseJackie]

2. That's a valid question. I certainly seem that way, doesn't it?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

3. They need to be recognized first, and then they need to negotiate a contract.

[George II]

5. A short Reuters article that touches on the process. Seems like the problems....

...of the previous campaign are forefront in the decision to unionize.

Workers on Sanders' 2020 White House campaign join union

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Workers on Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ campaign have joined a labor union, becoming the first presidential campaign in history to unionize.

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 400 will represent the campaign workers as Sanders, an independent U.S. senator from Vermont, seeks the 2020 Democratic nomination.

Sanders, a progressive who is a staunch supporter of unions, said on Twitter he was “proud that our campaign is the first presidential campaign to unionize.”

Mark Federici, president of Local 400, said in a statement he hoped “this breakthrough serves as a model for other presidential campaigns, as well as party committees and candidates for other offices.”

Sanders, 77, announced his candidacy in February and will compete in a crowded field of more than a dozen Democratic challengers seeking the nomination to face the likely Republican candidate - President Donald Trump - in the 2020 election.

Sanders, who narrowly lost the 2016 Democratic nomination to Hillary Clinton, has been among the leaders in early opinion polls of prospective 2020 Democratic candidates.

In January, Sanders apologized to women campaign workers who said they had been harassed or mistreated by male campaign staffers during his 2016 White House bid.

A majority of Sanders’ campaign workers signed a union card by Friday, triggering the union’s recognition, the union said. All campaign employees below the rank of deputy director will be represented by the union, which said the number could grow to more than 1,000 members.

The next step is for the campaign and the union to begin negotiations over a collective bargaining agreement, the union said.



https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-sanders/workers-on-sanders-2020-white-house-campaign-join-union-idUSKCN1QW2ZJ

[WhiskeyGrinder]

6. Yeah, people don't organize because they're happy with the way things are going.

If the campaign recognized the union by card check, that's something, anyway.

[George II]

4. I wonder why they didn't turn to the most logical choice for a union - the Campaign Workers Guild.

[Blue_true]

7. There is such a union? I did not know that. nt

[George II]

8. Yes, they're fairly new:

https://campaignworkersguild.org/

They seem to gaining momentum, however. For example, Deb Haaland's campaign was unionized:

Campaign Workers Guild Announces Thirteenth Contract; First in New Mexico!

Albuquerque, NM — Campaign workers for Deb Haaland, Democratic candidate for NM-01, announced the ratification of a collective bargaining agreement Tuesday. Bargaining unit members negotiated a groundbreaking union contract for a New Mexico campaign that includes a 50% wage increase for field organizers, health insurance coverage including vision and dental, and protection from sexual harassment and discrimination.

“Our staff is dedicated to electing the most progressive candidate to Congress and today we led by example in unanimously voting to join the Campaign Workers Guild. I am proud to be on a campaign that believes and recognizes that all workers deserve respect, fairness and access to a labor union,” said Angie Poss, Haaland Field Director.

“My experience with the campaign workers on the Deb Haaland for Congress campaign was inspiring,” said Ihaab Syed, Executive Committee member for the Campaign Workers Guild. “The Haaland workers formed a union because they understand that the movement for economic and social justice doesn’t just happen at the ballot box on Election Day; it has to happen continuously, especially in the workplace. The Haaland workers negotiated sexual harassment procedures, paid sick leave, and a $15 minimum wage for part-time employees.”