The Democratic National Committee is under fire by the union representing staffers who were reportedly fired with little notice and no severance pay.
Despite touting itself as the party that champions unions and workers’ rights, the DNC thought little of its own staff and kicked them to the curb with one day’s notice. The DNC Staff Union went public with their complaints and staffers, who raked in record-breaking fundraising during the presidential campaign, took to social media to call them out.
“The Democratic National Committee is facing the fallout of callous and short-sighted mismanagement by senior leadership,” the union statement read.
One day’s notice, no severance—the DNC fights for workers, just not their own.
Full statement below: pic.twitter.com/l3S2U0Na20
— DNC Staff Union (@dncstaffunion) November 18, 2024
“Starting Wednesday night, permanent employees were notified of their termination, effective Friday and with no severance pay. DNC leadership refuses to disclose to the DNC Staff Union the full extent of these layoffs and whether additional cuts are planned,” the statement continued. “These cuts go far beyond typical campaign turnover and impact employees who were previously told their positions would be retained after the election.”
“Despite record-breaking fundraising, the DNC failed to provide any financial support to those who have tirelessly served the Democratic Party and its mission,” the union continued.
The DNC’s Chair Jaime Harrison and Executive Director Sam Cornale “refuse to address their staff face to face” and have reportedly not given any reasoning behind the abrupt move.
“Unlike the Harris-Walz campaign, which provided three weeks of severance to its staff, the DNC’s senior leadership has chosen to leave loyal staff scrambling to cover rent, medical expenses, and childcare costs,” the statement continued, underscoring the “financial uncertainty” for many of the staffers.
“Scores of experienced staff, some who have been here as many as four decades, will see their institutional knowledge vanish overnight due to this rushed mass layoff,” the union contended, noting that those responsible for creating the problem remain on the payroll.
“The DNC staff is proud of the values that our party stands for,” the statement read. “We want to make it clear, however, that the principles we champion on the national stage have been disregarded in our own workplace. The process of regaining the trust of the American people must start with living our party’s values.”
We call on leadership to align the DNC’s actions with our principles by: 1) Offering severance to every permanent employee who was laid off, and 2) Addressing your staff honestly and transparently. Only then can we begin to move forward as a party.
— DNC Staff Union (@dncstaffunion) November 18, 2024
Some union members took to social media to blast the DNC.
“As a union member and a DNC member, I’m pretty appalled by the treatment of staff. Layoffs with a day’s notice and no severance? This isn’t how we uphold our values,” one wrote on X. “Respect for labor must begin at home. We owe staff so much better.”
As a union member and a DNC member, I’m pretty appalled by the treatment of staff. Layoffs with a day’s notice and no severance?
This isn’t how we uphold our values.
Respect for labor must begin at home. We owe staff so much better. https://t.co/i2TJFeSy4K
— Quentin Ocama, M.Ed (@QuentinOcama) November 18, 2024
“No severance. No communication. No respect for workers and certainly not for ‘Democratic values’. The DNC has blindsided employees and violated the standards we set for ourselves as Democrats. There is still time to do the right thing,” read a post by the North Carolina Democratic Party Staff Union.
One day after the election, Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign was reported to have been $20 million in debt during the campaign’s final week.
Just heard the same, and I’m hearing the Harris campaign is selling their e-mail list to make up for the losses https://t.co/bG7EEWFS7C
— Tara Palmeri (@tarapalmeri) November 7, 2024
Social media users reacted to the statement on X:
How many times do we have to tell them? They’re petty tyrants in it for their own power and will drop their supporters the first moment it’s not in their interests anymore.
— Brian Hampel (@CARefugeeinTN) November 19, 2024
Democrats betray even their most devoted followers; while squandering $millions of donation money, on a handful of celebrities to appear as cheerleaders.
The true, awful character revealed…!!— Phoeli (@sunmynd) November 19, 2024
Hopefully they get to take home the leftover koolaid from the campaign.
— Cletus Roscoe (@CletusRoscoe1) November 19, 2024
Are we supposed to laugh or cry ? ..I think I will go with the laughing..
— Maria Compton (@MariaCo66687250) November 19, 2024
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