Congressional Workers Union

{{Short description|American labor union}} {{Use American English|date=November 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox organization | name = Congressional Workers Union | logo = Congressional Workers Union logo.png | logo_size = 170 | logo_alt = | abbreviation = CWU | predecessor = | merged_into =  | successor = | formation = {{start date|2022}} | founder =  | dissolved =  | merger =  | type = Trade union | headquarters = Washington, DC, US | location = United States | coordinates =  | fields =  | membership = | num_members_year = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | secessions = | affiliations = | budget = | budget_year = | revenue = | revenue_year = | expenses = | expenses_year = | num_staff = | num_staff_year = | website = {{official URL}} }} The '''Congressional Workers Union''' ('''CWU''') is an American labor union that represents Congressional staffers in both individual US Representatives' and Senators' offices as well as committee staff.

== Background == A 2020 study found that one in eight staffers were not making a living wage; others said they were relying on food stamps or working second jobs.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Zhou |first=Li |date=2022-04-21 |title=Does Democrats' support for unions extend to their own employees? |url=https://www.vox.com/2022/4/21/23033731/congress-unions-staffers-democrats |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Vox |language=en |archive-date=May 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529091519/https://www.vox.com/2022/4/21/23033731/congress-unions-staffers-democrats |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-04 |title='Ground up and spit out': Inside the Hill staffer Instagram rebellion |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/04/inside-congressional-staffer-instagram-rebellion-00005505 |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=POLITICO |language=en |archive-date=June 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230615215405/https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/04/inside-congressional-staffer-instagram-rebellion-00005505 |url-status=live }}</ref> A 2022 survey conducted by the Congressional Progressive Staff Association had 86 percent of non-management staff and 80 percent of management staff say they felt there was a "toxic work environment in Congress" and 91 percent of respondents said they wanted "more protections to give [them] a voice at work”.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mineiro |first=Megan |date=2022-01-25 |title=Living paycheck to paycheck a reality for some Hill staffers, survey finds |url=https://rollcall.com/2022/01/25/congressional-staffers-congress-survey-paycheck/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Roll Call |language=en-US |archive-date=August 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806042739/https://rollcall.com/2022/01/25/congressional-staffers-congress-survey-paycheck/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Other issues with working conditions, including bullying and racism, were publicized by an anonymous Instagram account named Dear White Staffers.<ref name=":0" />

The Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 was supposed to extend labor rights to Congressional staff, but Congress never authorized the regulations that would have implemented legal protections for organizing.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Saksa |first=Jim |date=2022-03-02 |title=Parties clash over unionizing Hill staff at House hearing |url=https://rollcall.com/2022/03/02/parties-clash-over-unionizing-hill-staff-at-house-hearing/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Roll Call |language=en-US |archive-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322121951/https://rollcall.com/2022/03/02/parties-clash-over-unionizing-hill-staff-at-house-hearing/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Formation == In the weeks following the January 6 United States Capitol attack, multiple staffers had a call to discuss formally creating a union, with one person participating from a bathroom stall in the Rayburn House Office Building.<ref name=":2">{{Cite magazine |last=Vesoulis |first=Abby |date=2022-03-26 |title=Inside the Capitol Hill Staffers' Unionizing Effort |url=https://time.com/6160944/capitol-hill-staff-union-congress/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |magazine=Time |language=en |archive-date=October 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002034838/https://time.com/6160944/capitol-hill-staff-union-congress/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In February 2022, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she supported Congressional staff having the right to organize,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gregorian |first=Dareh |date=2022-02-04 |title=Pelosi to offer 'full support' if congressional staffers decide to unionize |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/pelosi-offer-full-support-congressional-staff-decide-unionize-rcna14819 |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=NBC News |language=en |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204003626/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/pelosi-offer-full-support-congressional-staff-decide-unionize-rcna14819 |url-status=live }}</ref> which led to CWU organizers going public with their efforts.<ref name=":2" /> The CWU began discussing with Representative Andy Levin to introduced a resolution protecting House staffers' right to organize by implementing the regulations from the Congressional Accountability Act, which he did a week later.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-09 |title=Levin, 130 Colleagues Introduce Resolution Recognizing Congressional Workers' Right to Organize |url=https://andylevin.house.gov/media/press-releases/levin-130-colleagues-introduce-resolution-recognizing-congressional-workers |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209114855/https://andylevin.house.gov/media/press-releases/levin-130-colleagues-introduce-resolution-recognizing-congressional-workers |archive-date=2022-12-09 |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Representative Andy Levin}}</ref>

The House Administration Committee held a hearing on the resolution in March,<ref name=":1" /> the full House passed it 217–202 in May.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blest |first=Paul |date=2022-05-11 |title=Congressional Staffers Could Finally Get a Union After 26 Years |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/congressional-staffers-union-right/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Vice |language=en |archive-date=August 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806094602/https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7vzy8/congressional-staffers-union-right |url-status=live }}</ref> It went into effect on July 18, 2022;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Saksa |first=Jim |date=2023-05-11 |title=After a year of organizing, staff union leaders look ahead to collective bargaining |url=https://rollcall.com/2023/05/11/after-a-year-of-organizing-staff-union-leaders-look-ahead-to-collective-bargaining/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Roll Call |language=en-US |archive-date=May 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529162219/https://rollcall.com/2023/05/11/after-a-year-of-organizing-staff-union-leaders-look-ahead-to-collective-bargaining/ |url-status=live }}</ref> the CWU announced eight House offices had filed petitions for a union the same day.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lai |first=Stephanie |date=2022-07-18 |title=Eight U.S. House Offices File for the Right to Unionize |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/18/us/politics/us-house-unions-congress.html |access-date=2023-10-01 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=September 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930080911/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/18/us/politics/us-house-unions-congress.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== US House == The following offices voted to form a union:

* Sean Casten (Illinois)<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Saksa |first=Jim |date=2023-06-15 |title=In a first, House Education and the Workforce panel's Democratic staffers look to unionize |url=https://rollcall.com/2023/06/15/in-a-first-house-education-and-the-workforce-panels-democratic-staffers-look-to-unionize/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Roll Call |language=en-US |archive-date=July 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705083943/https://rollcall.com/2023/06/15/in-a-first-house-education-and-the-workforce-panels-democratic-staffers-look-to-unionize/ |url-status=live }}</ref> * Chuy García (Illinois)<ref name=":3" /> * Val Hoyle (Oregon)<ref>{{Cite Instagram|postid=CxYVOx5O8Jz|user=congressional_workers_union|title=CWU supports the historic unionization of Rep. Val Hoyle & Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s staff.|date=2023-09-19}}</ref> * Ro Khanna (California)<ref name=":3" /> * Andy Levin (Michigan)<ref name=":3" /> * Ted Lieu (California)<ref name=":3" /> * Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (New York)<ref name=":4" /> * Mark Pocan (Wisconsin)<ref name=":4" /> * Ilhan Omar (Minnesota)<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Saksa |first=Jim |date=2023-01-06 |title=House Republicans want to wipe out staff unions, but it's not that simple |url=https://rollcall.com/2023/01/06/house-republicans-wipe-out-staff-unions-not-that-simple/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Roll Call |language=en-US |archive-date=September 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230924025144/https://rollcall.com/2023/01/06/house-republicans-wipe-out-staff-unions-not-that-simple/ |url-status=live }}</ref> * Melanie Stansbury (New Mexico)<ref name=":5" /> * Mark Takano (California)<ref name=":4" /> * Dina Titus (Nevada)<ref name=":4" />

Former offices: * Cori Bush (Missouri)<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Dayen |first=David |date=2023-01-04 |title=House GOP Tries to Cancel Congressional Staff Unions |url=https://prospect.org/api/content/3e8b837e-8baf-11ed-a64c-12b3f1b64877/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=The American Prospect |language=en-us |archive-date=October 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024063156/https://prospect.org/labor/2023-01-04-congress-house-gop-congressional-staff-unions/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

All thirteen house offices who have voted to form a Union are offices of representatives of the Democratic Party.

The staff on the Committee on Education and the Workforce also filed a petition to unionize.<ref name=":4" /> Levin's staff was the first to organize and negotiate a contract in October 2022, but it was only in effect for two months since he lost his re-election bid.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Saksa |first=Jim |date=2022-10-17 |title=Staffers in Rep. Andy Levin's office sign first union contract |url=https://rollcall.com/2022/10/17/staffers-in-rep-andy-levins-office-sign-first-union-contract/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Roll Call |language=en-US |archive-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322123542/https://rollcall.com/2022/10/17/staffers-in-rep-andy-levins-office-sign-first-union-contract/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== US Senate == The resolution passed in the House does not protect Senate staffers from retaliation for organizing, so the CWU sent a letter to Senate leaders in February 2023, asking them to pass the same regulations from the Congressional Accountability Act.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Saksa |first=Jim |date=2023-02-09 |title=Unionize the Senate, staffers urge |url=https://rollcall.com/2023/02/09/unionize-the-senate-staffers-urge/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Roll Call |language=en-US |archive-date=July 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230726152913/https://rollcall.com/2023/02/09/unionize-the-senate-staffers-urge/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Senator Sherrod Brown introduced such a resolution in June.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Papp |first1=Justin |last2=Saksa |first2=Jim |date=2023-06-23 |title=Senate Democrats offer resolution to let staff organize |url=https://rollcall.com/2023/06/23/senate-democrats-offer-resolution-to-let-staff-organize/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Roll Call |language=en-US |archive-date=July 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703225213/https://rollcall.com/2023/06/23/senate-democrats-offer-resolution-to-let-staff-organize/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2023, Senator Ed Markey voluntarily recognized a union formed by his staff.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Saksa |first=Jim |date=2023-03-08 |title=With voluntary recognition, Ed Markey's staff will be the first in the Senate to unionize |url=https://rollcall.com/2023/03/08/with-voluntary-recognition-ed-markeys-staff-will-be-the-first-in-the-senate-to-unionize/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Roll Call |language=en-US |archive-date=October 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019210711/https://rollcall.com/2023/03/08/with-voluntary-recognition-ed-markeys-staff-will-be-the-first-in-the-senate-to-unionize/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== See also == * Campaign Workers Guild

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{Official website}}

Category:2022 establishments in Washington, D.C. Category:History of labor relations in the United States Category:Legislative branch of the United States government Category:Trade unions established in 2022