I think there are two pretty big takeaways from the recent WP article about Sanders campaign.

[SouthernProgressive]

One is that negotiations seem to be faltering to the point that they felt the need to publicly leak what was happening.

Details about the negotiations between Shakir and the union representing Sanders’s campaign workers have not been publicly reported until now. A review of emails, instant messages and other documents obtained by The Post show that the conflict dates back to at least May and remains unresolved. The documents were provided to The Post on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the private talks.

This was leaked to the WP and is in respect to a conflict that has been going on since the beginning. There have been negotiating issues since the beginning yet the WP states they are unaware if Sanders even knows about them.

It was unclear when or whether Sanders had been made aware of the situation.

Second, we do not know the scope of the negotiation break-down that has gone so far that after months it was decided it needed to be put in the public domain. The Union specifically mentions "working conditions" in their comment.

This is a new story that has been brought to our attention by a recent leak. Just the words used tell me the break-down is about a lot more than pay. This is going to turn into a big story in the coming weeks and pay will only be a part of it. Management seems to be putting up a fight.

WP

[Me.]

1. So Much For All THe Hoopla

And how amazing BS is for encouraging his people to unionize. People asked at the time why it was necessary. Now we know.

[HerbChestnut]

4. Bernie's is the first campaign to allow, and encourage, the unionization of its staff.

Political campaigns are notorious for long hours and low pay. The fact that Bernie's staff has collective bargaining power and are able to negotiate higher wages and better benefits shows that the system is working.

[Me.]

7. It's Pointless To Encourage Having A Union

if you're going to keep fighting and objecting to union demands. And what is the point of having collective bargaining if the campaign won't make and keep a bargain with its workers? And why, I have always wondered, did they need to unionize to get paid decently in the first place.

[HerbChestnut]

9. They're currently paid at standard campaign rates.

I worked for a political campaign a few years ago and we were paid the same as what staffers in the Sanders campaign are getting paid now. Union negotiations take time, and the campaign needs to make sure they can accommodate the Union's needs as well as ensure they have enough funds to run an effective national campaign.

[Me.]

13. Nice Try

Not long ago there was big hoopla because the Senator was going to set the trend by encouraging his workers to unionize. They, apparently being paid what you were years ago, say it's not a livable wage and that they needed other compensation. So why, with his talk all these years about people being paid fairly should it come to this? He certainly doesn't/hasn't mind dinging others about this issue. He has plenty of money in the bank and keeps fundraising so why not use some of it doing something one would expect of him given his talk.

[HerbChestnut]

14. They're working on it, just give it time.

By the end of negotiations I guarantee the Sanders campaign will have the best compensated staff in the race.

[Me.]

15. No Offense But I Have REal Doubts About That

Given his stances that should already be happening. And, IMHO, he has a real problem walking his talk.

[onetexan]

30. I happen to agree with that

[sheshe2]

26. Here.

"American workers deserve a decent wage. The middle class is disappearing. We have millions of working people living in poverty and 99 percent of all new income is going to the top one percent. That is not what America is supposed to be about. If you work 40 hours a week, you should make enough to take care of your kids and your family." ~ Sen. Bernie Sanders





An article I posted said that his staff is not working 40 hours, but
60 hours per week and do not make $15 per hour.

Why is he not leading the way? This has been his baby forever now and does not do what he asks everyone else to do. His campaign is raking in millions, how is $15 going to hurt.

[Me.]

28. It Isn't About What Other Campaigns Do

It's about him and what he does. He certainly didn't mind all the praise when the union issue came up though some asked why he, Bernie Sanders, needed a union to treat his people decently. Now we know.

[Me.]

34. On Point

kind of mindblowing, the hypocrisy, considering some of those people working for him have reportedly resorted to using Payday to survive.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

25. I don't think you know how unions work.

Just because you encourage a union that doesn’t mean you have to give them everything they want. It sets a system in place for all the employees to bargain and individual employees to have grievances heard.

And he’s paying more than any other campaign so I don’t know what your problem is with the way it’s set up.

Meanwhile, other campaigns are still stealing wages with “fellowships.” But I’m sure that’s ok for “reasons”

[Me.]

27. I Certainly Do Having Lived In A Union Family

And giving them a living wage is not giving them everything, from what I've read a lot of them can't afford the basics and paying more than other campaigns is not the point. They're asking to be paid what he promised and in accordance with the policy he has put on the table. If he can pay a number of members of his team over a hundred thousand dollars why can't he pay others decently, help them with health care, expenses and overtime? But nice shot at whataboutism.

[thesquanderer]

38. It's pointless to encourage unionization if you don't anticipate that workers may want...

...something more than what management is giving them. Hence... negotiation.

[SouthernProgressive]

8. "Bernie's is the first campaign to allow, and encourage, the unionization of its staff."

That is not true.

[HerbChestnut]

10. Sorry, PRESIDENTIAL campaign.

[silentEcho]

16. Let us remember why. Sanders campaign was rife with sexual harassment and abuse.

Sanders campaign was rife with sexual harassment and abuse and Sanders did not address it at the time and even well after it was brought to his attention. The reason Sanders allowed the union was to damage control his inability to create a safe working environment for women in the past.

[MrsCoffee]

33. And unequal pay.

So, yes, it’s obvious they need to be speaking out.

[NurseJackie]

42. "Now we know"... yes, exactly!

It was to address a problem, or to cover up a problem, or to divert attention away from a problem. But there's definitely a problem, in spite of all the denials and deflections, it's clear to see. I'm glad that the truth is being revealed and exposed. People deserve to know the truth about their candidates, no matter who he (or she) may be.

[Me.]

46. ...

[mcar]

2. I sure hope Sanders doesn't use the

"I didn't know, I was off running for President" excuse like he did with the last issue.

[Cha]

5. BS said he was "a little busy" the

last time.

[Vegas Roller]

3. The old adage is true

If one cannot even manage one's campaign, one has no business trying to manage the country.

[NurseJackie]

43. Thank you.

[unc70]

6. Leaking to WAPO probably negotiating ploy

Rather interesting how this is being framed by the union and by political opponents. As I understand it, the problem arises from the number of hours worked, not from the nominal rate per hour. They claim the salary should be divided by 60, not 40 hours per week.

I have to wonder how other campaigns do when compared using this type argument. Are any campaigns still using unpaid "interns" or volunteers in similar positions as has been common in the past?

[SouthernProgressive]

11. We are not even close to knowing the scope of the negotiation issues.

"As I understand it, the problem arises from the number of hours worked"

I don't think it's only about pay. I'm already starting to see additional reporting. More is going to come out in the coming days as this stews a bit. We do know this union is excellent about keeping their negotiations behind the scene until they feel the need for additional pressure to be put on management.

[oasis]

12. "Can Bernie lead by example?" 7/30 debaters start your engines.

[Gothmog]

17. sanders is unhappy

Link to tweet

[SouthernProgressive]

19. He isn't doing well.

Tends to make one grumpy. Specially if that is already their standard disposition.

[W_HAMILTON]

21. LOL, true!

[Gothmog]

22. This is very a very grumpy quote

Link to tweet

[NurseJackie]

44. Ha! Well said!

[Me.]

29. Heaven Knows He Doesn't Mind Using The Media To Get What He Want

or to put his point across. He's on more than everyone, but I guess there's one rule for him and another for everyone else.

[onetexan]

31. This deflection makes him no different from the Idiot

Its never his fault. Shift the blame elsewhere. Make up excuses to CYA.

What galls me is there are democrats who are led to believe a man who conveniently run as a Dem (under the guise of a democratic socialist, whatever nonsense that is) and yet claim he's not a Dem. That was Bernie's first hypocrisy that i despise.

[Tarheel_Dem]

18. K&R

[Demsrule86]

20. Very good points...K&R

[betsuni]

23. A lot of cats coming out of a lot of bags.

[JI7]

24. hahaha

[Gothmog]

32. From my twitter feed

Link to tweet

[Eric J in MN]

35. Faiz Shakir wants to negotiate with the union

...which has yet to put forward a new pay structure proposal.

[Gothmog]

36. Yeah for Beto

Link to tweet

[Gothmog]

37. sanders is not paying $15 per hour

Link to tweet

[NurseJackie]

45. Wow. Those are important details and dollar amounts that make things clearer, and...

Wow. Those are important details and dollar amounts that make things clearer, and that helps to put it all into perspective. The comparisons with other candidates is VERY revealing.

Thanks for posting this. I think it's important that people know the truth.

[Gothmog]

39. sanders is frustrated

Link to tweet

[Hortensis]

40. So bizarre that Sanders' union is apparently helpless to

resolve his labor-employer conflicts. He's very famously a micromanager, and the chances that he knew nothing about the growing problems in his campaign's union lacks credibility, to put it mildly.

Were these endless negotiations that go nowhere by any chance meant to be drawn out until his campaign was over and he closed it down? His financial information-release delaying tactic applied to employee complaints, including underpaying his workers?

[Gothmog]

41. Sanders is cutting hours

Link to tweet