Democratic Party to ban its consultants from anti-union activity

The Democratic Party is in the process of banning its army of consultants from engaging in a wide array of anti-union activity following a report that one of its pollsters had helped Amazon combat organizing efforts, according to a document obtained by POLITICO.

An addendum to any contract between a Democratic Party political committee and a consultant would forbid the consultant — or any of its parents, subsidiaries or affiliates — from participating in an array of activities. That includes union-busting, aiding an employer in a labor dispute or lobbying against union-backed legislation.

The move comes less than a month after a report that Global Strategy Group, a prominent Democratic pollster based in New York, had aided Amazon's campaign to fend off organizing efforts at several of its Staten Island facilities, including by producing videos and distributing flyers that featured company executives extolling the benefits of remaining non-unionized.

GSG representatives also reportedly attended some of Amazon's so-called captive audience meetings, where bosses delivered anti-union presentations while employees were on the clock.

The news from CNBC prompted blowback from several of the U.S.' largest unions: The American Federation of Teachers and the Service Employees International Union, among others, said they would not work with GSG going forward.

Following the disclosure, CNBC said the company issued a statement asserting that while there were "factual inaccuracies" in the reporting on its work for Amazon, "being involved in any way was a mistake, we have resigned that work, and we are deeply sorry."

The Democrats' planned contract change is designed to prevent it from happening again.

Consultants would have to certify that they don't help other clients "persuade employees or workers to not form or join a union or otherwise discourage employees or workers from unionizing, or to aid a client (other than a union or labor organization) in a labor dispute," the addendum reads.

It would also bar consultants who "assist clients to advance legislation, ballot measures or other public policies that are opposed by the labor movement or to defeat legislation, ballot measure or other public policies that are supported by the labor movement." That provision that could carry special weight at the state level, where employers like Uber and Lyft are among those pushing to regulate gig work.

If the consultant is subsequently tapped to participate in any of those activities, it is required to "immediately notify [Party Committee/PAC] of the nature of the engagement and to whom the services will be provided," and the committee "will immediately terminate the agreement."