CWU CELEBRATES FIRST CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE UNION ELECTION IN U.S. HISTORY

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Congressional Workers Union released the following statement after reaching an agreement on the first union election in a congressional office in the history of the United States Congress. On September 22 and September 23, staff in the Office of Congressman Andy Levin (D-Michigan) will vote electronically in their union election.

“This is a historic and momentous day for both the labor movement and democracy, as we watch a union election play out for the first time in a congressional office in the history of the U.S. Congress,” said the Congressional Workers Union. “Today, congressional staff of the Office of Congressman Andy Levin will exercise their first amendment right of freedom of speech and assembly afforded to them under the Constitution and protected legally as a result of the House resolution that we helped push across the finish line in May. We are just getting started unionizing the Hill and are working continuously to move towards elections in several other offices.”

“We also want to recognize the brave congressional staffers and advocates who brought us to this incredible point in history by speaking out and demanding better working conditions and increased pay across Capitol Hill. For congressional staff curious about what the power of solidarity and a union can provide you in your office, the Congressional Workers Union stands ready to assist.”

Congress originally intended to grant bargaining rights to congressional staffers when it passed the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, but those rights could not be implemented without a further resolution. In February 2022, Congressman Andy Levin (MI-09) introduced a House Resolution to finally grant those rights for House staffers. The House passed Congressman Levin’s resolution on May 10, 2022, triggering a 60-day interim  period, which ended on July 18. That day, with bargaining rights finally fully protected, eight House offices filed for the first union elections to join the Congressional Workers Union.