PHILADELPHIA — Dozens of former field organizers for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) recently filed a class action unpaid overtime and minimum wage lawsuit against the party claiming the plaintiffs never received compensation for all the hours worked on the 2016 campaign trail. The lawsuit comes as a shock to a political party that vehemently voiced its support to raise the national minimum wage to $15 an hour to help struggling workers support themselves and their families.
Calling the lawsuit a fight to achieve “fair pay for fair work,” the plaintiffs’ attorney said he and his clients seek nothing more than to hold the Democratic Party to the ideals it espouses. According to reports, the DNC claims it had no funds to pay workers for overtime hours, a particularly disappointing stance considering many field workers put in as many as 80 to 90 hours per week on the campaign trail.
The DNC allegedly only paid its campaign field organizers a flat salary of $3,000 per month, regardless of how many overtime hours the individual put in on the job. At that rate of pay, many workers earned less than the federal $7.25 minimum wage. The lawsuit names the Pennsylvania Democratic Party and the DNC as defendants.
Host Committee for the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia Paid out Almost $1 Million in Bonuses
The lawsuit against the DNC is particularly troubling amidst the revelations the Host Committee for the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia made almost $1 million in bonuses and other payouts to organizers since the convention in summer 2016. Those bonus payments ranged from $500 to interns all the way up to $300,000 for the Host Committee executive director.
Those payments came out of a surplus from the funds gathered to put on the committee and much of the leftover money went to charitable causes and other worthy organizations like the School District of Philadelphia and the Food Trust of Philadelphia. The Host Committee was not named as a party to the lawsuit filed by the field organizers.
Campaign Worker Unpaid Overtime Lawsuit
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Our office will also determine if it is in your best interest to file a lawsuit against your employer. Because strict time limitations apply for filing these types of claims, we advise you contact our experienced unpaid overtime wage attorneys at your earliest convenience and preserve your legal rights.