Why are staffers with the Tennessee Democratic Party unionizing?

Staffers at the Tennessee Democratic Party are in the process of unionizing. They are following in the steps of several other states’ Democratic parties, including Florida and Kentucky, as well as the Democratic National Committee.

Cassie Jackson is the digital director at the Tennessee Democratic Party. She and her coworkers have chosen to unionize with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.  

“We knew some folks that had unionized their political campaigns and other state parties with the IBEW,” Jackson said.  “(They) had really good luck with them, good experiences.”

Jackson and her coworkers haven’t started the collective bargaining process, but she has talked to some who’ve pinpointed things they are looking for. Transparency in salary, a living wage and job security are at the top of the list. While most of their positions are permanent, she wants to make sure temporary staff is protected also.  

“Those workers deserve job protection just as much as anybody else,” Jackson said. “So we want to make sure that the bargaining unit that we’re trying to create covers all of those workers that qualify.”

She says, so far, party chair Hendrell Remus has been supportive of the move, which he says aligns with their party’s principles.

“If we’re going to be an organization that uplifts unions, that is always talking about the power of being able to unionize, then it’s about living out those values that we share as a Democratic organization,” Remus said. 

The unionization comes at the same time as voters will soon decide whether to add “right-to-work” language to the state constitution, making it harder for workers to form unions. This amendment was put on the ballot by the Republican-controlled Tennessee General Assembly.