Dear Democratic Party of Wisconsin Management, We, the undersigned, care deeply about the progressive fabric of Wisconsin and the success of the DPW. It is for these reasons we are supporting our DPW Organizing Union in calling for a fair wage, a fair contract, and fair living conditions. That means $17/hr with an annual Spring election bonus, a sustainable GOTV period including reasonable and strategic goals, and reasonable notice to relocate. Acknowledgements We acknowledge and appreciate the movements made by management to meet our demands thus far on several crucial articles including stipends, insurance, gender neutrality and work sites, back pay, and cost of living adjustments. We also want to acknowledge the movement made after the initial delivery of this letter including rescinding proposed cuts to our Weingarten Rights and progressive discipline process, affirming just cause for workers, and opening a pathway to ensure our goals can be achieved during GOTV. Changes made include the following: Regarding stipends: a relocation stipend was determined for current and future Field Organizers who were required to move to their geographical turf, as well as Distributed Organizers who are required to move to Wisconsin despite no physical turf assignment, amounting to $250 for in-state moves and $500 for out-of-state moves. In addition to that, an agreement was made for an increase in per diem allowance to $11 (a $1 increase) for meals on days that unit members are required to work 11 hours or more. Within the insurance portion of the agreement, the addition of a $50,000 annual trans healthcare fund is an exciting prospect. We believe this addition is a welcome step forward for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin’s support of its current and/or future trans employees. Additionally, we are glad to see DPW accept our demand to cover reproductive and abortion care with a fund of $100,000. DPW management heard our counter demands for the proposed blackout periods (i.e. a period of time where we work extended hours and are not allowed to take time off), and acquiesced to the timeline we believe is the extent of what we can work under the increasingly stressful conditions of election cycles. We also appreciate the agreement made to provide back pay from the end of our previous contract to the date of ratification of the 2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement. We look forward to the addition of an annual 3% cost of living adjustment to be added to our current base pay starting January 2023. All of the aforementioned changes, and others not mentioned, are great steps for the betterment of the organizers who currently work for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, as well as those to come. And to be sure, DPW provides benefits such as reasonably priced healthcare and retirement for those who opt in, as well as mental health resources through BetterHelp, and stipends and reimbursements. Demands Acknowledging the moves that have been made in bargaining meetings thus far and the current benefits that we receive, the Union still holds that there are several areas of the current proposal that have not yet been appropriately weighed. Our demands for these come with careful consideration and as a result of consensus from the unit. After much deliberation, we are reiterating our demands for a fair contract and fair wages . Our demands for these points are as follows: For a fair contract, we reject the proposed two week notice to relocate, and instead ask for fiveweeks notice to relocate. We have repeatedly granted management’s requests for increased flexibility when it comes to relocation, but a default of two weeks to relocate is simply not enough time, nor is it equitable or accessible. This request is not only about the amount of time and resources needed to move, but also due to the fact that the difficult rental market throughout Wisconsin burdens those who are required to move to their assigned geographical turf either from within or outside of Wisconsin. For a fair wage, we are again calling for an increase in our hourly rate to $17/hr, rather than the proposed rate of $16.12/hr, as well as a $2,500 performance stipend in Spring to stabilize income. We have shared that there are members of our unit working two jobs to make ends meet. No DPW employee should have to work two jobs. We are unified in our belief as a Unit that this wage proposal is more than reasonable and we are holding strong in our determination for this raise for a number of reasons . At present, workers have not received a raise since our contract was ratified in 2020. Our current hourly rate is $15.36/hr and overtime is $23.04/hr. We are required to work at least 50 hours per week. In the two years that we have gone without a raise, inflation has risen more than 7% since the original ratification date. Management’s proposed raise to $16.12/hr is less than a 5% raise from our current wages, well below inflation and performance increases. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ CPI Inflation Calculator, $15.36 in August of 2020 - when our CBA was originally ratified - has the same buying power as $16.99 in March of 2022. Thus, we are proposing an increased hourly wage to $17/hr to keep up with the two years of inflation since we first signed our contract in 2020 and to be fairly compensated for our work. We also believe it is important to note that this request is in-line with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin’s past resolutions and their values. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin has been in support of at least a $15 minimum wage formally since 2016. In the Democratic Party of Wisconsin 2016 Resolutions, it states that “the minimum wage should be raised to at least $15 per hour immediately, and raised according to market inflation every year”. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ CPI Inflation Calculator, $15 in June of 2016 at the time of this resolution has the buying power of $17.89 in March of 2022. Considering this, we believe our offer of $17/hr to be more than fair and a significant compromise from the unit. Field organizers are paid hourly, ensuring that we are paid for all of the hours we work. We reject the notion that because we will be required to work upwards of 70 hours a week as November approaches, and that because of that increase in our overtime, $16.12 will ultimately come out to a living wage. We should not have to work extended hours, 55 or 60 or 70 hours a week for months without a full weekend to amount to a fair wage. Knowing the current limitations of the industry, we understand those hours are expected. However, the chronic and systemic underpaying and overworking of field organizers across the country is not an excuse for DPW to continue underpaying and overworking us. It does not negate the need for a fair hourly wage. Since our hours are so variable based on the election cycle, and because of DPW’s funding structure, we are calling for an annual $2,500 performance bonus awarded in the Spring to ensure everyone can pay their bills year-round. What we are asking for is not only reasonable, but ultimately in-line with the progressive ideals that DPW has been fighting for and fair for the work we do to accomplish the programmatic goals of the Party. We believe in furthering the progressive fabric of Wisconsin. To do our best to support that mission, we need to be understood, respected, and supported. We work with volunteers, activists, county parties, candidates, and voters alike to make that possible and it is both incredibly important and challenging work. We are prepared to take those challenges on, with the support of DPW and fair living conditions, a fair contract, and fair wages. Sincerely, The Organizing Unit