groundbreaking

In a groundbreaking decision for a presidential campaign, Sanders campaign staff unionizes

March 16, 2019

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The presidential campaign for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) announced on Friday that its staffers will become the first ever major U.S. presidential campaign unit to have a unionized workforce.

The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 400 will represent the staffers. Anyone below the rank of deputy directory will be able to join the bargaining unit. Contract negotiations will begin soon and the bargaining unit could ultimately reach 1,000 members.

Sanders, who is well-known as a pro-union candidate, tweeted that he was "proud" of his staff’s unionization.

I’m proud that our campaign is the first presidential campaign to unionize. We cannot just support unions with words, we must back it up with actions. On this campaign and when we are in the White House, we are going make it easier for people to join unions, not harder. https://t.co/JNv3dpss6D
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) March 15, 2019

CNN reported that the move will put pressure on other Democratic to follow Sanders' lead and "at least remain neutral" if staffers organize. Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro has already pledged to support his staff if they take such a route and will also pay all campaign workers at least $15 per hour.