Elections

Democratic Convention Agrees To Only Use Union Workers

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The Democratic convention committee agreed to sign a union agreement Monday in a possible attempt to fix lingering disputes it has had with the labor movement.

The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) agreed to only hire unionized trade workers for its upcoming convention. Project labor agreements are deals that require employers to only hire union workers for a temporary protect. The committee has been at odds with some within the labor movement and the move could help mend the divide.

“I’m pleased that our hard work and preparation has kept us on time, on task and on budget as we move into a critical phase of convention planning,” DNCC President Rev. Leah D. Daughtry told PoliticsPA. “The labor community is a vital partner to our Convention efforts and to our work in the Democratic Party.”

Unions expressed outrage when the 2012 convention was held in the right-to-work state of North Carolina, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The policy outlaws mandatory union dues or fees as a condition of employment. More recently, it blocked Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders from nominating union leaders to help draft the party platform.

“Their commitment to protecting the rights of workers and working families is reflective of the core principles our Party will illustrate during the Democratic National Convention,” Daughtry also noted. “Our valued labor partners will ensure that this convention is built efficiently with an unparalleled quality of craftsmanship.”

The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO and the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council both applauded the agreement. They note having unionized workers will help keep the convention on schedule and help to better organize the event. The convention will be held in Philadelphia between July 25 and 28.

The DNCC, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO and the trade council did not respond to a request for comment by The Daily Caller News Foundation.

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