From today’s New York Times:
Aides to eight of the most progressive members of the House filed petitions on Monday to form unions in their offices, the first substantial action by congressional staff to organize collectively to bargain for better work conditions.
The move, which has been in the works for more than a year, paves the way for House aides to begin negotiating on working conditions, promotion policies and paid and sick leave without the threat of retaliation — a right that other federal workers already enjoy. It follows a resolution passed in May that granted congressional staff members such labor protections for the first time and took effect Monday.
Petitions were filed by staff aides to Representative Andy Levin of Michigan, who sponsored the resolution, as well as seven other liberal Democrats: Representatives Ro Khanna and Ted Lieu, both of California; Cori Bush of Missouri; Jesús “Chuy” García of Illinois; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York; Ilhan Omar of Minnesota; and Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico.
Organizers said they hoped the petitions were just the first wave of a far broader unionization effort across Capitol Hill, where Mr. Levin said 9,000 aides now have protection for collective bargaining.
“For far too long, congressional staff have dealt with unsafe working conditions, unlivable wages and vast inequity in our workplaces that prevent Congress from properly representing the communities and needs of the American people,” the Congressional Workers Union said in a statement. “Having a seat at the bargaining table through a union will ensure we have a voice in decisions that impact our workplace.”
Read the complete story here.