International Rescue Committee Workers in NYC Win Union with OPEIU Local 153
New York, New York – On Thursday, December 19, workers at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) Resettlement Office in New York City won their union via voluntary recognition. Today, an official card check took place wherein a neutral arbitrator confirmed that over 50% of eligible employees signed union cards.
The voluntary recognition process began after a supermajority of IRC NY employees delivered a letter to their employer on Monday, December 9th, announcing their intent to form a union with the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153.
The IRC NY office is the eighth IRC regional office to unionize with OPEIU, following Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Abilene, TX; Oakland, CA; San Jose, CA; Atlanta, GA; and Turlock, CA.
"Forming a union at IRC is an essential step to ensure workers are truly represented, heard, and empowered,” says Mohamed Abbas, an IRC Healthcare and Benefits Navigator. “Unionizing such a diverse group of individuals is not only a bold move toward shaping a better future but also an urgent necessity in these uncertain times. Together, we can face the challenges of our workplace collectively, fostering strength and solidarity, rather than navigating them in isolation."
Demand for the critical services IRC workers provide has never been higher, and as the new US presidential administration promises to ramp up its attacks on the rights of workers, immigrants, and forced migrants, it has never been more important for humanitarian workers to organize and have a voice at the table.
“We are very happy and proud to have won our union today!” says Aaron Banen, a Youth Program Specialist at the IRC NY. “We join several other IRC offices now and are excited to be part of a national movement that we believe is essential to strengthening our workplace for ourselves and for our clients. We look forward to working with our colleagues and other IRC offices in bargaining for our first contract!”
Included in the IRC NY workers’ key demands are better pay transparency and equity, higher wages, affordable health insurance inclusive of coverage for mental healthcare, just cause protections, safe and confidential spaces for meeting with clients, and a collective voice and input when it comes to organizational decision making.
The workers of IRC NY look forward to joining their peers at the bargaining table in the fight to ensure equity, stability, and respect for all IRC workers and the clients they serve every day.
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ABOUT IRC WORKERS UNITE
IRC Workers Unite is made up of refugee and resettlement workers from across the nationwide offices of the International Rescue Committee in the United States, proudly represented by the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU). Collectively, we believe in democratizing our workplace to better serve our clients, our community, and one another. Having a seat at the table allows those of us doing direct service work to help shape the future of IRC so that it is a sustainable workplace where all are treated with the same dignity and respect we advocate for daily for our clients.