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OUR MISSION
The Canadian Political Workers Alliance (CPWA) is a grassroots movement fighting for the rights, safety, and dignity of political staffers across Canada. We are currently collecting anonymous testimonies to expose systemic harm, hold institutions accountable, and drive meaningful reforms through legal, policy, and advocacy channels. Together, we are working to end wage exploitation, regulate unpaid overtime and burnout culture, protect staff from harassment and retaliation, and secure enforceable HR mechanisms and inclusion under labour law.
While staffers in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and other G7 countries already benefit from stronger workplace protections—including the right to unionize—Canadian political workers are still excluded. Our strength is in numbers—by sharing your story or adding your voice, you are joining a collective moment to transform political work into a profession built on fairness, accountability, and respect.
FIVE ISSUES WE'RE FIGHTING FOR:
Canadian political staffers are essential to democracy — but unlike our peers in other G7 countries, we lack basic workplace protections. CPWA is fighting to change that.​
1. Fair Compensation
Too many staffers face low pay, unpaid internships, and wage exploitation despite long hours and high demands. We are fighting for transparent pay scales, fair wages, and an end to unpaid political work.​
2. Workplace Safety & Harassment Protections
Harassment, bullying, and retaliation are far too common in political offices. Staffers deserve clear safeguards, independent reporting mechanisms, and enforceable accountability measures.
3. Regulated Hours & Overtime
Burnout culture is normalized in politics, with staff working 60–80+ hours a week without overtime or rest, and demanding vacation schedules. We demand regulated work hours, protections against unpaid overtime, and limits to exploitative workloads.
4. Independent HR Oversight
Currently, political offices police themselves — leaving staff particularly vulnerable to abuse of power and systemic abuse. CPWA calls for an independent, arm’s-length body to handle complaints and enforce workplace standards.
5. Inclusion Under Labour Law
Political staffers are excluded from basic employment standards that apply to nearly every other worker in Canada. CPWA is pushing for inclusion under labour codes and protections that match or exceed those in other G7 democracies.
Canada vs. the G7:
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U.S: White House and Congressional staff won the right to unionize in 2022
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U.K & France: Political staff covered under stronger labour laws and workplace protections