an independent, democratic union composed of staffers in a range of positions representing Senate and Assembly offices across the state. Our members are committed to public service and bettering the lives of New Yorkers. We are the staff who help manage legislative and district offices, advance our member’s policy agendas, and serve our constituents directly. We are currently pursuing voluntary recognition before the Senate Majority Leader and Assembly Speaker.

In speaking with our fellow legislative workers across the state, we find the same concerns mentioned over and over again. We work long hours, including many hours of unpaid overtime, at the pleasure of our employers. Pay disparities are vast between and within offices. Many of us are not paid a living wage or at a level commensurate with the experience and dedication we bring to serving our communities. In contrast with the elected officials we serve, we are not reimbursed for travel to and from Albany. Despite the ethical issues, some staff feel compelled (“are voluntold”) to work on campaigns during their “free” time. And we are at-will employees with no job protection. We are proud to work for legislators that stand up for workers’ rights – and we now ask that they stand up for ours.

We have collected cards from both constituent service staffers and legislative staffers representing regions across our state. Given the nature of our work and the strong culture of union support in New York state, learning our rights as public sector employees has been central to our efforts, and each member of our organizing committee is well-versed in our right to organize. We have retained counsel, and look forward to presenting the Majority Leader and Speaker with a critical mass of signed cards for voluntary recognition in the near future.