IOWA CITY, Iowa — Two-and-a-half weeks out from the Feb. 3 Iowa caucuses, which involves some of the heaviest campaigning in the 2020 Democratic primary season, workers on Pete Buttigieg’s campaign are getting an expansive new contract.
On Thursday, the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor announced that over 250 members of his campaign were formally recognized as members of the IBEW Local 2321, a telecommunications workers and political campaign union based out of Sioux City, Iowa. Both the campaign’s organizers and regional organizing directors will be covered in the agreement.
The terms of the contract include a $400 raise for all members in the bargaining unit and a $65 monthly phone stipend. The contract also guarantees weekly paid time off and 100% of all medical costs covered.
“I am very pleased to announce that we have forged an agreement which reflects the values of our campaign,” said campaign manager Mike Schmuhl. “We are fortunate to work for a candidate that believes in treating workers with dignity and respect, and is committed to expanding collective bargaining rights as President. I appreciate the constructive engagement of IBEW Local 2321 and our amazing organizing team across the United States and look forward to working with all of them to win a new era.”
The announcement of the contract means virtually every competitive Democrat running for president has allowed some form of unionization in its staff. Last week, businessman Andrew Yang announced that campaign workers in two states had solidified a union contract.
Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts have the most generous contracts available to their workers, while other candidates, such as former Vice President Joe Biden and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, agreed to more modest perks and pay for their team.
Sanders’s campaign, for example, offers 57 days of paid leave and expansive health benefits. Those who have worked on campaigns in previous cycles have questioned the wisdom of forming a union, noting that controlling costs is often the largest concern in a primary and general election.
