Support Union Rights for Legislative Staff Toolkit
The IBEW is calling on all Massachusetts union members to mobilize in support of allowing state legislative staff to exercise their right to organize and vote on joining a union.
For nearly 50 years, legislative employees have been excluded from union rights that executive and judicial branch staff enjoy. The IBEW and Boston Local 2222 led a six-year organizing campaign, and now legislators are finally voting on a bill that would allow state House and Senate staff to join a union.
These legislative aides do meaningful work but face low pay, high turnover, and other workplace issues that a union could address.
Allowing staff to join a union would provide:
- A voice on the job: Protected ability to raise concerns about workload, harassment, and workplace culture
- Fair wages and transparency: Negotiated pay scales, fair raises, and clear promotion standards
- Stronger protections: Enforceable policies on harassment, discrimination, and grievances
- Workplace stability: Reduced turnover and better retention for improved public service
- Union support: Access to experienced organizers, training, and advocacy network
This is about the basic right to organize, the foundation of all worker protections.
The bill is currently before the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development. If approved, it must still pass the full House and Senate before going to the governor. By the way, legislative leadership can also voluntarily recognize a staff union today.
Support union rights for Massachusetts legislative staff with the toolkit below:
- Letter Campaign: Visit bit.ly/4iGAXPH to send a letter to your Massachusetts state legislators. Enter your mailing address, click “Start Writing,” and a sample letter will populate, telling your legislators support union rights for legislative staff.
- Social Media Post with Graphics: Share this post on your social media networks to inform fellow union members about this proposed legislation:
- “As a proud Massachusetts union member, I support state House and Senate staff’s fundamental right to join a union. Massachusetts state legislators can pass a bill to fix an outdated law that blocks this right. Or they can voluntarily recognize a staff union today. Support union rights for legislative staff by writing to your legislators. bit.ly/4iGAXPH” [Insert SM graphic 1 or SM graphic 2]
- Additional Resources