YouTuber Patrick Bet-David doesn't understand why a Capitol Hill staffer would want to unionize

After Rep. Byron Donalds recalled threatening to fire his staff if they tried to unionize, Bet-David said: “I wouldn't expect anybody from that community want to, you know, try to unionize”

Written by Media Matters Staff

Published

From the January 30, 2025, edition of Valuetainment's PBD Podcast, streamed on YouTube

REP. BYRON DONALDS (R-FL): So you know where, in the federal government, where the workers have to show up for work every day? Capitol Hill. If you're a staff member for a member of Congress or — House or Senate — you're in the office. Especially when we're in town. Like, if we're not in town, you might be at home because I'm not there, I can't see you. But when we hit — when we fly in, the staff is there. There is not a member of Republican or Democrat that I'm aware of that lets the staff work remotely. Do you know why? Because on Capitol Hill, the staff members for the Senate and for the House are at-will employees. I think there was a move — I think AOC and a couple of them tried to let their staffs unionize. And I remember I walked in —

ADAM SOSNICK (PANELIST): She would.

DONALDS: This was a couple years ago. I think Pelosi was starting to float it or something. And I walked into my — and I love my staff. They're great. I walked in, I looked at them, and I said, “Let's be very clear about something: If you try to unionize, you're all going to be fired. There's no — there's no union here. It is my way. It's my name on the door, and my name was put on this door by the people back home in the district. So I'm showing up, and you're showing up." They didn't even, they didn't even question it. I just made sure everybody fully understood the situation.

PATRICK BET-DAVID (HOST): I wouldn't expect anybody from that community want to, you know, try to unionize — especially somebody that's wanting to work for you. They're they're — philosophically, they're going to be on your page. You know what's the only time I agree with working from home? If you're getting paid commission. Go for it.