The South Dakota Party staff joins a wave of campaign workers and party staff across the U.S that has chosen to unionize. Including the Democratic Parties of Idaho and Vermont and most recently the campaign staff of Bernie Sanders' presidential run.
The staff will join United Food and Commercial Workers Local 304a, the largest and most diverse AFL-CIO affiliated union in South Dakota. Under the leadership of first term President B.J. Motley, Local 304a has shown a committment to organizing and bringing new workers into the Labor Movement. President Motley says," UFCW Local 304A is excited to welcome the staff of the South Dakota Democratic Party into the Union Family. Freedom and Equality begin in the workplace, and we are proud that the young staff of the SDDP has made this historic decision to bring their principles of unity and working class solidarity, into the South Dakota Democratic Party.”
The President of the Sioux Falls AFL-CIO, Kooper Caraway also welcomed the decision of the State party staff saying,
“ We are witnessing the beginning of a nationwide wave of Union Organizing. And Young Workers are leading that wave. In the past two years, nearly 1 million new workers have joined or organized unions in their workplace and 70% of those workers were under 35. We are very proud of the staff of the South Dakota Democratic Party for joining with their Brothers and Sisters across the nation in fighting for Good Jobs, Living Wages, and Dignity at work. “
The Union and the party are expected to begin contract negotiations after the state party chair elections, March 23rd in Oacoma.