Community Solutions staff vote overwhelmingly to form a union with OPEIU Local 153
Community Solutions staff vote 96% to unionize with OPEIU 153
NEW YORK CITY — On June 22, 2022, a supermajority of eligible employees at the national nonprofit Community Solutions voted overwhelmingly, 22-1, in favor of establishing a labor union, CS United (@CSUnited22), to be represented by the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153. Community Solutions is a national nonprofit with a mission to create a lasting end to homelessness that leaves no one behind.
Employees at Community Solutions have worked for several months to organize to ensure they have a more inclusive role in shaping an equitable and successful workplace. Members of CS United will join thousands of nonprofit employees across the country represented by OPEIU’s Nonprofit Employees United (NEU).
“I’m proud to work at an organization that promotes the value of human-centered design and integrating the voices of those closest to the work into decision-making processes . Today’s vote to approve our union shows that staff at Community Solutions are committed to living up to those values within our own organization and to working with Management to hold ourselves to the same standards we ask of our communities.” said Lenny Pierce, a Community Solutions Capacity-building Advisor.
Community Solutions leads Built for Zero, a movement of more than 100 US cities and counties using enhanced data systems and improvement science to radically change how they work and the impact they have — proving that homelessness is solvable, one population at a time.
“While I feel privileged to work at Community Solutions, there have been too many instances of unilateral decision making, deprioritizing racial equity within the organization, overlooking staff well being, and other managerial missteps. I am thrilled that today’s vote means we now have a clear way to address these concerns collaboratively with CS Leadership. With this vote, we have clearly shown the strength of our solidarity, and look forward to carrying this power forward as we bargain our first contract,” said Amber Chandler, a Community Solutions Systems Improvement Advisor.
CS United will be represented by OPEIU Local 153, which represents over 10,000 workers in health care, museums, universities and nonprofit social services throughout the New York City tri-state area.
“We are thrilled to welcome CS United to our rapidly growing nonprofit union community,” said Local 153 organizer, Scott Williams. “They have displayed a clear commitment to strengthening their workplace, recognizing that all employees should have the equal opportunity to learn and grow. We look forward to working with our newest members to bargain a contract which empowers workers at Community Solutions to win a more diverse, equitable and truly inclusive workplace.”