Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumWhy Having a Union is Such a Powerful Tool for Preventing and Addressing Sexual Harassment
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A union represents the collective power of workers at the workplace. Given that sexual harassment is an abuse of power, typically by a male manager against female subordinates, having a union and collective voice strengthens a workers ability to stop harassment. A woman facing sexual harassment is not alone.
Working people with a union feel safer bringing their concerns forward, because they have the power of a collective bargaining agreement and their union behind them. So harassment is more likely to get raised and addressed in a unionized workplace.
The collective bargaining agreements negotiated by workers and their unions with employers typically contain anti-discrimination language and language calling for dignity and respect at work. These contractual provisions are enforced through a grievance and arbitration process at the worksitea process typically far quicker and less expensive than outside legal proceedings. (
Workers retain the ability to file a discrimination charge with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or state agency as well, but often the collective bargaining agreement provides stronger and quicker recourse.)
More: https://aflcio.org/2018/2/15/why-having-union-such-powerful-tool-preventing-and-addressing-sexual-harassment
Great move on Bernie's part after the allegations of his 2016 campaign. Bravo sir for finally recognizing the problem.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
uawchild
(2,208 posts)It would be nice.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Have all the campaigns had issues with abuse? Warrens hasn't.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
uawchild
(2,208 posts)Sorry, I am just very pro-union.
Let me get out of the way of the interniccine combat.
Give me a warning next time lol
But back to my naive post, I really do think unionizing all the campaigns would be a good idea in general.
Cheers!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
sheshe2
(84,102 posts)Where does he stand in all this?
Cheers!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
uawchild
(2,208 posts)Really?
Ok.... I am a little confuse by this discussion.
Want my opinion on the Sanders campaign?
Let me give it to you in any case.
Sander's has taken many good policy positions but is a spent force in Presidential Politics.
I applaud him for championing progressive issues but I hope that after the debates and maybe a primary or two that he drops out when he realizes he can't win the nomination. I hope that he will then throw his support behind one of the excellent candidates remaining. I would prefer if that was one of the next generation of leadership. Warren would be a good fit for many of his supporters when he drops out too.
Now what does this all have to do with me liking unions for all the campaigns? I am still a little confused.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Then you said.
1. Are all the campaign's unionized?
It would be nice.
That is when I mentioned Warren and Booker.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Sorry, it's late.
Cheers!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
I am East Coast and 9:24 PM is not late for me. I am a night owl.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Tipperary
(6,930 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
PatrickforO
(14,608 posts)to be represented by a union.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
MerryBlooms
(11,778 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Yes.
Bernie Sanders apologizes to women who were sexually harassed while working for his 2016 presidential campaign
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/10/bernie-sanders-apologizes-for-sexual-harassment-in-2016-campaign.html
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
MerryBlooms
(11,778 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
George II
(67,782 posts)I was a little bit busy running around the country trying to make the case.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
George II
(67,782 posts)....either wins or loses. It hasn't been practical to unionize in the past.
This was prompted by a wide-spread and pervasive "culture" (as some women on the campaign described it) of sexual harassment and abuse, and pay inequality. Sanders' workers unionizing is almost like a preemptive move to make certain it doesn't happen again this time around. It's an act of self-defense.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
sheshe2
(84,102 posts)Exactly. They also do not have to plea to a higher up in the campaign to state their case. They get to plea to an unbiased union member.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
George II
(67,782 posts)I was a little bit busy running around the country trying to make the case.
Even though "the case" was essentially being violated by the staffers themselves.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TCJ70
(4,387 posts)...in protecting campaign workers. What a leader, right? Im sure that was the purpose of this post.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
George II
(67,782 posts)...haven't you read anything about the abuse, harassment, and income inequality during the 2016 campaign? A reminder:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=111775
His response to the abuse? "I was a little bit busy running around the country trying to make the case.
Harry Truman would likely disagree.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
sheshe2
(84,102 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TCJ70
(4,387 posts)...why, again? Should he have not done this?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
George II
(67,782 posts)....been more in touch with what was going on in his campaign this might not have been necessary.
No other campaign in recent memory have had so many complaints of sexual abuse and harassment or pay inequality. That's why this is happening and why it isn't considered necessary by the staffers or workers of other campaigns.
So again, why is this a positive?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TCJ70
(4,387 posts)...is certainly a positive trait in a potential leader. Thanks for pointing it out!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)If a potential leader was not involved enough with staff to know that a $30,000 settlement was paid out by his own campaign because of a senior staffer creating a hostile workplace environment for women, would you call that a "positive trait in a potential leader?
And if that potential leader, after being informed of the culture of harassment in a campaign never one reached out to those who reported harassment, then months later one, of the main offenders is invited to that potential leader's 'gathering' would you call that "self reflection and positive responses to one's own issues?"
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)But I get how we force ourselves to put a positive spin on sacred cows... else all we'd have is hamburger meat again.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TCJ70
(4,387 posts)...Bernies not my top choice this around. I just find the people whove invested four years of hate into him ridiculous in this regard. This thread is rife with them.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)You consider facts to be "hate?" Are you saying that a candidate must be handled with kid gloves, with no regard to the record?
Perhaps you don't believe the women who came forward with those reports of sexual harassment and gender pay inequities? Do you have any reason to think that Sanders staffers would lie about what they experienced?
That $30,000 settlement that the candidate states he didn't know about - do you believe that's not true as well? That reports of that settlement are "hate?"
Your frantic swatdowns to any post that points out the facts concerning the past workplace conditions that likely concerned current staffer to seek the protections of a union, certainly aren't those of someone who "isn't choosing Bernie this time around."
But do go on.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
KitSileya
(4,035 posts)Based on previous behavior by their boss, they knew they needed more safety in the work place.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)It's reasonable to posit that they wanted the union because of the revelations by staff alumni about gender pay inequity, and lack of response to harassment complaints - despite the campaign paying out a $30,000 dollar settlement to staffers who reported harrassment in Iowa and Illinois.
The fact that Sanders says that he "didn't know" about that $30,000 settlement may have given them reason to believe that they needed an alternate advocate for them concerning pay, and workplace safety, and organized into a union.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TCJ70
(4,387 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)So, you're "not for Bernie this time around."
Who do you think is a better choice than he is?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
15. Good for Bernie for being out front...
...in protecting campaign workers. What a leader, right? Im sure that was the purpose of this post.
Psst. It happened within his campaign. Google his first responses.
Nighty Night.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TCJ70
(4,387 posts)...if your article is accurate. So again...good move, Bernie. Its ok to say it. You dont have to be afraid.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
sheshe2
(84,102 posts)...if your article is accurate.
Are they a questionable source now?
2016/2019. Good thing an Amber Alert does not take three years.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TCJ70
(4,387 posts)I think its great that you recognize Sanders good choices in this regard and are promoting them with your OPs.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
sheshe2
(84,102 posts)Oh trust me, I commend sanders for doing this....finally. When he was first asked, he said he was a little to busy. I am appalled that it took him 3 years and a second campaign to do so.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)He certainly didn't intiate it, as per the UAW release - the campaign would remain "nuetral" so long as a majority of staffers chose to go union.
It was a "good choice," in that it would have been hyppocritical to try to stop them from doing so.
http://www.ufcw400.org/2019/05/08/bernie-sanders-workers-become-first-presidential-campaign-staff-to-ratify-union-contract/
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TCJ70
(4,387 posts)...and didnt stand in their way. Fantastic!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)The candidate simply didn't oppose them as long as they got a majority.
http://www.ufcw400.org/2019/05/08/bernie-sanders-workers-become-first-presidential-campaign-staff-to-ratify-union-contract/
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TCJ70
(4,387 posts)Thanks for pointing out how cooperative he was!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)I really do imagine the heightened awareness of sexual harassment problems and how to avoid them, plus potentially explosive damage to the campaign from future problems, will help this one function as it should. That's even though many of the same people who were part of what the NYT described as an "aggressive frat boy culture" have been hired for the Bernie Sanders 2020 Presidential Campaign again. There are reportedly approximately 100 members right now.
However, people being people, everyone involved in this high-pressure, high-stakes campaign presumably has big personal and professional interests in a successful campaign, whatever that is to each of them. And that could tend to both discourage bringing complaints in the first place, by either keeping completely silent or settling without notifying the union, and also to pit anyone who did against everyone else involved.
So it can be a powerful tool if it functions as it's meant to.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden