On Labor Day, our staff and Board gathered at the worker center to celebrate the staff’s first OPEIU Local 39 contract with WJW. The decision to unionize, supported strongly by the Board, was driven by the need to protect workers in the face of anti-worker laws prevalent in the United States.
For instance, at-will employment means that employees can be terminated for any reason or no reason at all, which can have severe consequences for workers’ livelihoods, regardless of their job type. A union contract is essential for legally safeguarding against such at-will firings.
This decision also reflects our belief that we must practice what we preach. Our organizers work to educate low-income and immigrant workers about the benefits of unionization, and it’s important that they be able to point to their own participation in the union movement. Moreover, WJW aims to set a standard for other nonprofit organizations. Many non-profit workers have come to our offices experiencing face low wages, lack of benefits, unsustainable work-life balance, and disrespect. While we are dedicated to serving and empowering the community, we recognize that achieving these goals sustainably requires the protections a union contract provides.
In attendance were: David Ortiz Whittingham (staff), Frida Ballard (staff), Mary Munyutu (staff), Socorro Cortez (staff), Robert Christl (staff), Rebecca Meier-Rao (Executive Director), Steve McDonald (Board), Lola Loustaunau (Board), Kurt Kobelt (Board president), Jac Weitzel (Board), Paulette Harder (Board), Mary Kremer (Board).
