U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García’s staffers have joined a burgeoning effort on Capitol Hill in which congressional aides are unionizing to bargain for better working conditions.
García’s aides on Monday joined staffers from seven other progressive members of the House in filing petitions to form a union. The Democratic congressman said he supported the unprecedented step toward collective bargaining, which comes amid a wave of unionizations throughout Chicago and the country.
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Staffers in García’s office said in a statement that the effort to unionize was both substantive and symbolic.
“Our staff petition not only represents the power of our collective action, but also what this freedom to form a union truly means — democracy not just in our elections, but in our workplaces here in the People’s House,” the aides organizing in García’s office said in a statement shared with the Tribune.
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Nine of the 10 eligible staff members in García’s D.C. office and two Chicago offices plan to join the union, said García spokesperson Ben Kamens, who said he plans to join. Eligibility will be determined by the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights.
Staffers also filed for unionization from the offices of Democratic U.S. Reps. Ro Khanna and Ted Lieu of California, Rep. Andy Levin of Michigan, Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri, Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
A House resolution allowing congressional aides to organize and engage in collective bargaining passed in May following months of public scrutiny over racial equity and workers’ rights among Capitol Hill staff.
The aides are seeking to become part of the Congressional Workers Union. House aides would be able to begin negotiating on issues such as working conditions and policies for promotions and sick leave.
Kamens said he hasn’t seen any issues tied to working conditions in García’s office but said, “There are working conditions issues in offices across the Hill and a general culture of pay disparity and workplace rights that need improvement.”
Both of García’s parents were Teamsters, and he himself has joined the Retail Workers union, Teamsters and United Legal Workers Union as a worker, García said at a Tuesday news conference at which several representatives said they support their staffers unionizing. Kamens praised the congressman’s union background.
“It really helps to have that support from the top down,” the aide said.
“It’s important that we practice what we preach,” García said.
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The congressman has thrown his weight behind workers’ right to unionize before, including current support for the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which has been passed by the House twice but hasn’t been voted on in the Senate, where it would likely be struck down by Republicans.
[ House passes bill easing bids by workers to form unions ]
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The PRO Act bill would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns, add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights and weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions in many states.
As he praised the staffers’ unionization effort, García said congressional aides deserve living wages and robust workplace protection.
“Frankly, it is shameful and embarrassing to hear stories that junior staff — young, motivated public servants striving to make a difference in our country — are regularly skipping meals or skimping by on reception food or even struggling to find decent housing. We have to do better,” the congressman said.
The congressional staffers seeking unionization join workers establishing unions across the country, he added. Chicago has seen a wave of union activity, marked by the unionization of workers at several Starbucks locations across the city.
The aides may also soon be joined by more of their peers. Staffers across Capitol Hill have shown an interest in joining the union, Kamens said. He said he expects more offices will join soon.
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