CONGRESSIONAL WORKERS UNION DRIVES VICTORIES FOR HILL STAFFERS
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Congressional Workers Union released the following statement celebrating victories secured by their organizing drives in the United States House of Representatives and Senate.
Over the last five months, Congressional Workers Union organizers…
✅ Won bargaining rights for House Congressional Staff!
In late February, we approached Congressman Andy Levin with draft legislation to give staff the protected right to bargain collectively. Since 1996, certain Congressional workers (such as employees of the Architect of the Capitol and the Congressional Research Service) have enjoyed the right to organize without fear of retaliation. Thanks to the work of staff members in Congressman Levin’s office, public pressure built by the Dear White Staffers Instagram account, the brave staff who have spoken up and our own efforts in the press, H.Res. 1096 passed the House on May 10th, 2022. It’s official: we’ve won the protected right to organize!
✅ Won a $45,000 salary floor for House offices!
Make no mistake: public pressure played a key role in creating a salary floor for House offices. This salary floor will boost salaries for hundreds of staffers, and is the first step toward ensuring that all Congressional employees have a living wage.
✅ Won salary floors as high as $71,000 in Congressional offices by assisting staff with collective bargaining!
In the wake of the MRA increase on the House side, we’ve been helping Congressional staff bargain with management to prioritize staff salaries and distribute raises equitably. By circulating template materials and coaching folks through the process of negotiating as a team, we’ve helped staff in over a dozen offices secure life-changing raises.
✅ Distributed informational materials to workers in 100s of offices. The more you know! 🌈 In addition to the information organizers share in 1:1 conversations with other workers, we’ve been in touch with hundreds of offices to share organizing tips, legal FAQs, and our own factsheets specific to the Congressional workplace.
✅ Earned a following on Twitter and Instagram, where we consistently answer questions and share news (and post our victories)
Speaking of which, are you on #LaborTwitter? It’s never too late. Follow us on Twitter here, and join us on Instagram too!
✅ Debunked & corrected multiple cases of false reporting regarding unionization
There have been a few articles and studies published with misleading information (often sourced from “senior staff”) about unionization efforts. Given we’ve been in the weeds on Congressional regulations for months now, we’re happy to correct the record as needed.
✅ Hosted happy hours & a rally to help build our community
Community comes first! With the protected right to organize coming into full effect on July 18, we’re thrilled to be able to have more in-person conversations. We were excited to meet dozens of our fellow Congressional workers at these three get-togethers.
✅ Garnered coverage in dozens of publications, building public support and securing our place in the broader labor movement.
CWU has shone a light on the state of working conditions on the Hill in interviews with TIME Magazine, More Perfect Union, The New York Times, Bloomberg, Politico, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, The Hill, The New Republic, American Prospect, Vox, and many more.
✅ Started organizing conversations with 100+ offices!
Office by office, we’re changing the culture of our workplace for the better. And we’re just getting started. On July 18, our protected rights go into full effect and we are ready to hit the ground running. Are you with us? Get in touch with us here.
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