Allegations of sexual harassment. Abuse by the employer. Staff fleeing in tears. Long working hours with little praise. "Crippling" workloads.

Complaints from some third-world sweatshop? No. From the offices of (some of) the elected members of Toronto City Council.

The result is that, according to a quality job of reporting by the Toronto Star, there has been a secret effort to start a union of councillors' political staff. It would be the first such union in any Canadian municipality if it is certified. Labour Board hearings began a few days ago.

There have been complaints about comments concerning body parts, temper tantrums by some councillors that leave staff in tears and hiding from a council member 'having a bad day'.

The stories about abuse of political staff have circulated likely for as long as today's political structure has existed. This union drive by the people who work in a councillor's office at the municipal level is a first. Employment lawyers are watching with interest. So are union leaders.

Each council member is responsible for their own hiring decisions and the work environment in their office. Pay rates can vary from office to office, as can working conditions such as hours and vacation days. What staff are expected to do also varies: the council member doing the hiring for a position in his/her office may have quite different needs for that particular constituency. Still, loyalty to the individual is demanded.

Politics is a hard game, be it municipal, provincial or federal. It can be unbending demands and pressures from constituents, social media threats and abuse, surprise political, economic or cultural explosions, and the many other competing requests flaring from the issues of the day.

Trust and confidentiality in one's political assistants are demanded by politicians. Political staff members deal on an intimate basis with their boss and see them at good and very bad times. Any political office is filled with stress. If the work environment turns toxic, however, the elected member must assume responsibility for managing the office.

Canadian municipal officials are watching the Toronto councillor staff union drive with eyes wide open.