The Democratic National Committee’s staff union lambasted the national party Monday for allegedly laying off workers last week without severance — decrying what it described as a “betrayal of party values.”
“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 DNC Staff Union wrote in a scathing statement.
“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 union further alleged that termination notices started going out the evening of Nov. 13 and were effective Friday, Nov. 15 — giving workers just over a day’s notice that their services were no longer required.
Some of those axed had been with the DNC for decades, the organization claimed.
The union also called out the DNC’s top brass by name, accusing them of “callous and short-sighted mismanagement.”
“These cuts go far beyond typical campaign turnover and impact employees who were previously told their positions would be retained after the election. Chair Jaime Harrison and Executive Director Sam Cornale refuse to address their staff face to face and have offered no explanation,” the union added.
Between January and mid-October of this year, the DNC hauled in some $539 million, according to Federal Election Commission records.
Democrats have long fashioned themselves as the party of the working class, and the party’s 2024 national platform talked extensively about buttressing labor unions.
However, in practice, prominent Democrats have deviated from their statements at times when it comes to supporting their employees.
During the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) defended himself from complaints by campaign staffers that he did not pay them at least $15 an hour despite his pledge to establish the federal minimum wage at that amount.
Workers on other Democratic campaigns had similar complaints at the time as well.
Harrison, 48, has led the DNC since 2021 after unsuccessfully challenging Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in 2020.
The South Carolinian has since announced that he will not seek a second four-year term, and an election among the 447 DNC members is expected to occur early next year.
The Post contacted a DNC spokesperson for comment.
