Turmoil: DNC Abruptly Lays Off Workers Without Severance, after “Record Donations” Prompting Union’s Outrage

The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is receiving backlash after terminating not only temporary employees but also permanent workers who believed they had job security.

Shortly after Trump’s “surprising” landslide victory, DNC employees were informed they would no longer have jobs on a day’s notice without severance. 

“Starting Wednesday night, permanent employees were notified of their termination, effective Friday and with no severance pay,” the DNC Staff Union said in a statement. 

The union claims that terminated employees were left struggling to pay rent, medical expenses, and childcare costs. Workers with newborns and single parents were mostly impacted.

The workers’ union took fault with the abrupt termination, contrary to the ideals of a party that claims to support fairness and stand for employees’ rights.

“One day’s notice, no severance—the DNC fights for workers, just not their own,” the union posted on X.

One day’s notice, no severance—the DNC fights for workers, just not their own.

Full statement below: pic.twitter.com/l3S2U0Na20

— DNC Staff Union (@dncstaffunion) November 18, 2024

Terming the termination as “a betrayal of party’s values” the DNC Staff Union described the abrupt termination as “callous and short-sighted mismanagement by the senior leadership.” 

Ironically, the individuals behind the abrupt mass layoff remained on the DNC payroll, while rank-and-file workers went home empty-handed.

“The individuals whose decisions throughout the campaign created this situation remain on payroll, while these workers are left with nothing.”

Highlighting potential deception, terminated permanent employees told Axios that they were not adequately informed that they were dispensable.

“Many DNC employees felt blindsided by the extent of the layoffs and felt that their managers had not been upfront with them about the possibility,” Axios reported.

The DNC Staff Union also says the layoffs were beyond the campaign turnover and impacted workers who were promised job security. 

“Scores of experienced staff, some who have been here as many as four decades, will see their institutional knowledge vanish overnight due to this rushed mass layoff.”

Additionally, the DNC refuses to disclose whether other remaining employees would face the same fate leaving, many guessing about the fate of their careers.

“DNC leadership refuses to disclose to the DNC Staff Union the full extent of these layoffs and whether additional cuts are planned.”

These cuts go far beyond typical campaign turnover and impact employees who were previously told their positions would be retained after the election.

— DNC Staff Union (@dncstaffunion) November 18, 2024

The workers also pointed to the DNC’s hypocrisy in that, despite receiving “record-breaking fundraising,” it failed to support workers who tirelessly toiled, to support the party’s mission.

Unlike the Harris-Walz campaign, which provided three weeks of severance to its staff, the DNC’s senior leadership has chosen to leave loyal staff scrambling to cover rent, medical expenses, and childcare costs.

— DNC Staff Union (@dncstaffunion) November 18, 2024

Nonetheless, the party adequately compensated billionaire celebrities for their “services” and potentially for their endorsements. 

For example, the campaign paid American billionaire talk show host Oprah Winfrey’s company Harpo $1 million, while DNC workers who volunteered for the party’s mission went home with nothing. 

While the DNC Staff Union noted that the Harris-Walz campaign adequately notified terminated employees, the dissimilarity between the DNC and the campaign remains a distinction without a difference.

Meanwhile, the DNC Staff Union demands severance for the abruptly terminated employees and more transparency regarding the fate of the remaining workers.

Besides worker layoffs, the organization is “absolutely in turmoil,” including disappointed donors who felt misled and key staffers stepping down, according to DNC’s Financial Committee member and key fundraiser Linda Li.

“People are stepping down,” Li told NewsNation’s Rich McHugh. “And there are going to be elections.”