Rep. Cleaver Leads Call to CAO for Equal Pay for House Contractors

June 15, 2022
Press Release

(Washington, D.C.) – This week, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) led a coalition of 29 House Democrats calling on the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to ensure contractors of the House of Representatives receive equal pay for equal work. Specifically, Cleaver and fellow Democrats called on the CAO to investigate and rectify disparities in pay for employees of Maslow Media Group, Inc. (Maslow), which has a contract with the House Recording Studio (HRS) to supply Television Production Specialists.

In the letter to Chief Administrator Officer Catherine Szpindor, Cleaver and fellow lawmakers wrote:

"These Maslow employees work side-by-side with HRS employees performing the same duties and responsibilities. However, the Maslow employees earn substantially less than the HRS employees and have few, if any, benefits (such as retirement, health insurance, etc.) available to them. As we understand the situation, the difference in pay between the Maslow employees and the HRS employees is the result of the contract between the Chief Administrative Officer and Maslow."

The lawmakers continued:

"We believe that employees who perform the same work under the same conditions should be paid the same rate, whether they are direct employees of the CAO or employees of a contractor. We strongly urge you to work with us, the House Administration Committee, and the House Appropriations Committee to take the following actions."

The actions requested by the lawmakers include:

  • Allocating sufficient funds under the Maslow Contract to increase the wage rates paid to Maslow employees so that they are equivalent to the rates paid to HRS employees;
  • Ensuring sufficient additional funding to enable Maslow to pay these increased wage rates to its employees;
  • Making the required amendments in the Maslow Contract to ensure that Maslow's employees receive the increases in their wage rates; and
  • Making the necessary changes to the contracting process to ensure that future contracts covering these Television Production Specialists provide for the payment of wages equal to the earnings of HRS employees who perform the same work under the same conditions.

"For far too long, Maslow workers have worked side-by-side with their House Recording Studio counterparts performing the same duties, yet Maslow workers make lower wages and receive less benefits. Maslow workers broadcast messages of pay equity and dignity and respect in the workplace from the House of Representatives—and now it's time the lawmakers they serve start speaking out for them and try to rectify this injustice. Thank you to Representative Cleaver and all the Members who signed on. This brings us one step closer to making sure that our members who provide vital services for the House of Representatives are paid fairly," said Bob Williams, President of NABET-CWA Local 52031.

Joining Cleaver's call for equal pay for House Contractors and Maslow Employees were Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Anthony Brown (D-MD), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), David Trone (D-MD), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Andre Carson (D-IN), Dina Titus (D-NV), Nikema Williams (D-GA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Marie Newman (D-IL), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Karen Bass (D-CA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Mark Pocan (D-WI), David Cicilline (D-RI), Jennifer Wexton (D-VA), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Andy Levin (D-MI), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Alma Adams (D-NC), Danny Davis (D-IL), and Alan Lowenthal (D-CA).

Official text of Cleaver's letter is available here.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.