Majority of Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign workers say they want to unionize

Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren gestures as she speaks during a campaign stop at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia on May 16, 2019.

Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images

A majority of Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s 2020 campaign staff has said it wants union representation.

Non-management campaign employees authorized the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2320 to represent them in negotiations with campaign leadership, according to Steven Soule, the local’s business manager.

“We look to move to the table to come to a bargaining agreement that provides pay and benefits and working conditions that are the best in the nation,” Soule said.

The Warren campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

If the effort is recognized, Warren’s campaign could be the third presidential campaign in history to unionize. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign employees became the first to secure a union contract when they did so last month.

Democratic contender Julian Castro’s staff of several dozen unanimously signed onto the Campaign Workers Guild last month, The Daily Beast reported, though a contract had not yet been finalized. The Castro campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Warren campaign’s bargaining unit is made up of 208 individuals nationwide, according to Soule. He said that the local had yet to sit down with campaign leadership to begin negotiations. The local conducted an authorization card recognition campaign that received third-party verification on Monday.

Democrats have sought to improve working conditions on their campaigns this cycle. At least half a dozen campaigns signed a pledge vowing to pay interns, The Huffington Post reported last month, and several are taking steps to combat workplace misconduct.

The major candidates are all vying for union support for their electoral bids. So far, only former Vice President Joe Biden has won a major union endorsement, receiving the backing of the International Association of Firefighters in April. President Donald Trump outperformed among union members in 2016 compared to recent Republicans.

Article Courtesy of CNBC

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