Bernie Sanders' Campaign Workers Just Notched a Historic First

Those working for the Vermont senator's 2020 run have won union representation
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Mar 16, 2019 5:30 AM CDT
A First for Presidential Campaigns: Unionization
Bernie Sanders addresses a rally in North Charleston, SC, on Thursday.   (Lauren Petracca/The Post and Courier via AP)

Campaign workers for Bernie Sanders' 2020 Democratic campaign have unionized, becoming the first presidential campaign workers in history to do so. The United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 confirmed Friday that Sanders' campaign workers were the first to win union representation, per the AP. UFCW Local 400 President Mark P. Federici says he expects the decision will mean that Sanders' campaign workers have pay parity and transparency, as well as no gender bias and harassment. Earlier this year, Sanders apologized to female staffers on his 2016 campaign who said they experienced sexual harassment from male staffers, while the New York Times reported allegations of unwanted sexual advances, as well as pay inequity. Sanders' campaign manager, Faiz Shakir, says the Vermont senator is honored to be the first presidential candidate with a unionized workforce. (More Bernie Sanders stories.)

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