Democrat-led House passes measure to allow staffers to unionize

The Democrat-led House has passed a resolution allowing congressional staffers to unionize, approving the measure along party lines. 

The resolution that is sponsored by Michigan Democrat Rep. Andy Levin and was passed Tuesday night allows House staffers to form unions and collectively bargain, though it limits their power to negotiate on wages and benefits, according to CBS News.

"The Congress has long been strengthened by the skill, dedication and patriotism of our hard-working staffers, who enable us to fulfill our legislative and constituent responsibilities," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said after the vote. 

The union resolution was approved shortly after Pelosi announced a new minimum salary for House staffers of $45,000.

The Senate is also expected to consider such a measure for its staffer, but passage in the upper chamber is considered less likely.

House staffers can but will not be required to join a union, under the resolution.

Congressional staffers have increasingly argued in public that they are underpaid for long hours.

In February, some staffers formed the Congressional Workers Union, which they said was a voluntary group created with the "common goal of providing congressional staffers the right to organize," CBS also reports.