DNC Let Go of Staff With No Severance Complains SEI Union

In a few weeks, the DNC blew over $1.5 billion on ads and other expenses, so much that it fired workers with no severance. Boohoo.

Harris Campaign Debt Contributed to DNC Mass Layoffs

Please consider Union Questions if Harris Campaign Debt Contributed to DNC Mass Layoffs.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is facing backlash after laying off staff members with just one day’s notice and no severance, according to the DNC Staff Union. The union has sharply criticized the party’s leadership, accusing them of “callous and short-sighted mismanagement” following the mass layoffs, which they argue go far beyond typical post-election turnover.

Many of those laid off had been assured their jobs would be secure after the election. Some of those had even worked for the DNC for decades.

The union also pointed out a disconnect between the Democratic Party’s public values and its treatment of its own staff. They said, “the principles we champion on the national stage have been disregarded in our own workplace.”

The layoffs have fueled concerns about the DNC’s financial stability, particularly in light of the financial scrutiny surrounding Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.

Harris’ campaign raised over $1.5 billion. However, it has come under fire for its spending practices.

The New York Times reported the campaign spent $1.5 billion in 15 weeks. Recent reports reveal it paid nearly $2.5 million to Oprah Winfrey’s production company, more than double the initial estimate.

Harris’ campaign is also reportedly in significant debt. NewsNation reports the campaign is $20 million in the red.

The Associated Press reported that the campaign continues to send fundraising appeals asking for donations without explicitly stating the funds are to pay off campaign liabilities.

In light of these issues, the DNC Staff Union is demanding two things. The first is severance for the laid-off workers. The second is full transparency from DNC leadership about the layoffs and the party’s financial situation.

Union Calls Democratic Party Staff Layoffs After Record Fundraising ‘Callous’

The Guardian reports Union Calls Democratic Party Staff Layoffs After Record Fundraising ‘Callous’

The union representing workers at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has accused the party’s leadership of a “callous” betrayal of party values after the sudden announcement of layoffs of permanent employees without severance.

“Despite record-breaking fundraising, the DNC failed to provide any financial support to those who have tirelessly served the Democratic Party and its mission,” said the union in a press release.

“These cuts go far beyond typical campaign turnover and impact employees who were previously told their positions would be retained after the election,” the union claimed.

Workers were notified at night on 13 November of the layoffs, according to the press release, and the union claimed the DNC had not disclosed to the union the full extent of the layoffs or if additional cuts were planned.

“How could we have raised record-breaking numbers and still find ourselves in this situation?” they added.

“One day’s notice, no severance—the DNC fights for workers, just not their own. Full DNC Union Statement here.

Celebrity Endorsement Payment Rebuttal

AOL did a fact check and says Reps for Beyonce, Eminem and others said they were not paid to endorse Harris

“Eminem has never received, and has never been offered, any money for his involvement in any political campaign or his endorsement,” Dennehy wrote in an email.

Tina Knowles, Beyonce’s mom, said on Instagram that claims her daughter was paid $10 million for speaking at a Harris rally are false.

”Beyonce did not receive a penny for speaking at a Presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harrris’s Rally in Houston,” the post says in part. “In fact she actually paid for her own flights for her and her team, and total Glam.”

A source close to the situation similarly told USA TODAY that Megan Thee Stallion was not paid for her endorsement.

Representatives for Lizzo did not respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY, but PolitiFact reported that the Harris campaign said the singer was not paid for her endorsement.

Winfrey took to social media herself to deny receiving a personal payment while acknowledging that her company, Harpo Productions, was paid to produce a sit-down event in Michigan with Harris. Winfrey said the payments covered production expenses, such as paying workers, and that she did not personally profit from the sit-down. 

Q&A: How Did This Happen?

Q: How?

A: By blowing over $1 billion dollars in a matter of weeks on a poor strategy of comparing Trump to Hitler and other such nonsense while not answering a single question, even in creampuff interviews.

Boohoo from Mother Jones

I saved the biggest boohoo for last. Please consider DNC Let Go of Staff With No Severance, Says Union

“Losing an election has not absolved the organization of its responsibility to treat its workers with basic dignity.”

One former DNC union member, whose last day was Friday, said she was shocked. “For a lot of folks, this is life-altering,” said the laid-off employee, who spoke with Mother Jones on the condition of anonymity.

“Amongst the members that were laid off includes one deeply beloved union member who worked at the DNC for 38 years,” the staffer said. “So I push back against the claim that this is normal, because we have members who have been here for decades who are shocked and angry and trying to figure out how they’re going to survive this layoff.”

A DNC official told Mother Jones that all workers were informed of the possibility of layoffs as early as September 13, and that 95 percent of those being let go had a post-election end date in their offer letter.

But one laid-off worker who spoke with Mother Jones said that she, like some other employees, felt pressured into leaving a full-time role for a temporary contract position prior to the election. 

“I was told in order to get a title change or a promotion or any raises, it would only be if I agreed to sign a contract that had an end date of November 15,” she said. The staffer said management had said an extension was expected.

Among those DNC employees who have not been laid off, the mood is uncertain, said one employee who was unaffected by the layoffs but requested anonymity for fear of retaliation from the DNC. 

“One thing that has been a common thread during my employment has been that we’re trying to break the boom and bust cycle of democratic infrastructure. So I’d say this feels very antithetical to that,” she said. She plans to look for another job soon—but calls that decision “heartbreaking” as someone who’s spent years working in Democratic electoral politics. 

“We find it very cruel that DNC management is trying to claim that layoffs are just part of the job,” a DNC union member said. “And we feel strongly that losing an election has not absolved the organization of its responsibility to treat its workers with basic dignity.”

GoFundMe

The DNC union launches a GoFundMe to help former staffers hit by massive layoffs after election losses.

The GoFundMe is seeking $25,000 to assist staff.

I fail to see how $25,000 will cover 400 ex-employees for any length of time. But might I suggest Oprah, Bill Gates, or George Sorus fund the whole damn thing?

On second thought, I would rather those impacted reflect on their choice to work with the DNC.