DPNM Staff Unionizes with Unique Collective Bargaining Agreement

In case you missed it, the Democratic Party of New Mexico announced its staff’s historic unionization under the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local Lodge 794 last week. This long overdue announcement reaffirms the commitment of New Mexico Democrats to the values and individuals of the Labor Movement.

The Collective Bargaining Agreement covering DPNM staff has many provisions that take into account the unique political nature of the staff’s work and codifies many commonplace workplace and human resources protocols to maintain a consistently high level of professionalism at the Party that will be maintained for years to come regardless of changes in party leadership. 

Read more about DPNM’s unionization in the New Mexico Political Report.

Democratic Party of New Mexico workers unionize

By Nicole Maxwell

August 30, 2024

The Democratic Party of New Mexico announced Friday that its staff unionized as part of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local Lodge 794.

DPNM began the unionization process in 2022.

The unionization includes a collective bargaining agreement that codifies workplace standards at DPNM including salary ranges, pay periods, work schedules, job descriptions, time off, grievance procedures and seniority protections, a press release about the unionization states.

“Although the Democratic Party has always maintained strong connections to the structure and ideals of the Organized Labor Movement, DPNM staff has never unionized before, making this long overdue,” DPNM Communications Director and Staff Union Steward Daniel Garcia said in a press release. “As staff, we hope this will strengthen the Party by making it a more reliable and overall better workplace that can withstand changes in Party leadership or internal party politics to bolster institutional knowledge and incentivize working here, leading to better work and sustained victories for years to come. All parties involved in these negotiations feel we did this responsibly, informed by our political experiences and understanding of DPNM’s needs.”

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