United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Docket No: 16-5800
Counsel: Justin Swidler, Richard Swartz
On November 9, 2016, Bethany Katz, an organizer who worked directly for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party (“PDP”), filed a federal lawsuit, on behalf of herself and all other organizers who worked for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party (“PDP”), in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania asserting that the PDP violated federal and state law by requiring her and others to work in excess of 40 hours per workweek while denying her and others overtime compensation guaranteed by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) and various state laws.
This lawsuit is not an attack on the Democratic Party, its ideals, or its candidates. Rather, Plaintiffs recognize that the Democratic Party strives to meaningfully advance, and is indeed responsible for the very laws on which this lawsuit is premised. The Democratic Party is commended for its efforts in pursing higher and fairer wages for workers throughout the country. But the “Democratic Party” is not an abstraction; it is composed of hard working individuals who fight day and night for what they believe is right. The people on the ground level of the campaigns – the organizers – work tirelessly during the campaign season to ensure that Democratic voters will show up and vote on election day. Such tireless efforts are taken to advance the ideals of the Democratic Party, including to advance the rights of workers. The fight for higher minimum wages is central to the Democratic Party’s national platform.
On February 6, 2024, the Court granted Final Approval to the Parties proposed settlement. All individuals who worked for the PA Democratic Party from November 9, 2013, to December 31, 2021 in a Field Organizer capacity, and who did not opt out of the settlement, should receive their first settlement check in May of 2024. Additional checks will be mailed in 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029; each check is expected to be mailed near mid April.
A copy of the Settlement Agreement and the Final Order are available below.