Unionization in the nonprofit sector
Trade unions for nonprofit workers
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A nonprofit workers union is a trade union for nonprofit workers, defined as those working for non-governmental, not for profit organizations.
The unionization of a nonprofit organization depends on the national labor organizing laws of the country the organization operates in. Depending on region, the nonprofit sector can also be referred to as the voluntary sector, the third sector, the community sector, the civic sector, and the social sector.[1][2][3]
Australia
As of the 2010s, Australian nonprofit employees are often covered by a ruling in Australian labour law called an award, in which case enterprise bargaining agreements are established in the award.[4] In Australia, unions organize across an entire sector rather than forming separate unions for each employer.[5] Nonprofit workers in many industries are represented by a number of established unions in Australia depending on the industry, including: Australian Services Union, Health Services Union, United Workers Union, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, Independent Education Union of Australia.
United States
Brookings Institution
Brookings staff's union, Brookings United, was formed in 2021.[6] It is affiliated with the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU), a local of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers.[7] In 2024, the ratification of a 3-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) was reached.[8]
Code for America
In January 2021, Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) launched Tech Workers Union Local 1010 as a result of its success unionizing Kickstarter.[9] In August, workers at the nonprofit organization, Code for America, went public with their union drive with OPEIU.[10]
Electronic Freedom Foundation
In 2024, Electronic Frontier Foundation (EEF) employees joined the Engineers and Scientists of California Local 20, IFPTE. EFF Executive Director Cindy Cohn said in response to the unionization: "EFF is its people. From the moment that our staff decided to organize, we were supportive and approached these negotiations with a commitment to enshrining the best of our practices and adopting improvements through open and honest discussions.”[11]
Planned Parenthood
The Planned Parenthood organizations that are unionized are done so regionally or by location.[citation needed] Since 2017, frontline Planned Parenthood staff have been publicly engaged in unionization campaigns at many Planned Parenthood locations.[needs update] Workers have criticized the organization for its low salaries, poor working conditions and a disconnect between leadership and rank and file workers.[when?][citation needed] Planned Parenthood Rocky Mountains challenged the results of its union election at the National Labor Relations Board and hired the Fisher Phillips lawfirm to run an anti-union campaign, before eventually agreeing to a contract in 2018. Planned Parenthood North Central States disciplined its union's entire bargaining team[12][when?] and fired a union organizer after she accused a coworker of assault.[when?] The regional affiliate agreed to a contract in 2023 after 37 bargaining sessions over the course of 16 months.[13] Planned Parenthood Federation of America in Washington, D.C is represented by the SEIU Local 500.[14]
Southern Poverty Law Center
In mid-December 2019, staff at the Southern Poverty Law Center voted to unionize, with 142 in favor and 45 against.[15] The SPLC had "long been dogged by accusations of internal discrimination against minority employees, particularly in the area of promotions."[16][17]
The Legal Aid Society
The Legal Aid Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit law firm based in New York City. In 1969, he Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (ALAA) was established to represent the staff attorneys of The Legal Aid Society and remain the largest union of public defenders in the country. In 2026, non-attorney staff at The Legal Aid Society, unionized with the 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, held a citywide picket demonstration calling on management to institute pay raises.[18]
Urban Institute
In 2021, the Urban Institute Employees Union (UIEU) was formed and is affiliated with the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU), a local of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers.[19][20] In 2024, ratification of the first collective bargaining agreement (CBA) was reached.[21]
Wikimedia Foundation
A union of Wikimedia Foundation workers began formalizing in early 2026 under the Wiki Workers United name.[22] On 24 June, United Kingdom WMF employees were the first country-based group to seek union recognition under the Wiki Workers United umbrella, with the support of the Communication Workers Union. The UK has the second highest number of staff, after the United States. A month later, the United States staff launched their own voluntary union recognition from WMF. The labor union is supported by the Communications Workers of America (CWA). Over 1,190 volunteer editors signed a petition, pledging to go on a solidarity strike, should Wiki Workers United call for one.[23] On 27 July, WMF declined to voluntarily recognize the United States union. WMF stated that the union would need to pursue a formal National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election procedure instead. 404 Media noted that the statement used "very carefully-worded language common among companies and organizations that have fought against unionization".[24] On July 28, the NLRB process was registered, citing a Littler Mendelson representative for WMF and a Weinberg, Roger & Rosenfeld representative for CWA.[25]
Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU)
The Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU), IFPTE Local 70, represents employees of over 40 nonprofit organizations across the United States, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Food & Water Watch, J Street, and the National Women's Law Center.[26]
| Nonprofit Organization | Year union established | Union name | Affiliated with |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Civil Liberties Union | 2021[27] | NPEU | |
| Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) | 2021[28] | ALDF United | NPEU |
| Bend the Arc | 2021[29] | NPEU | |
| Brookings Institution | 2021[30] | Brookings United | NPEU |
| Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) | 2018[31] | NPEU | |
| Code for America | 2023[32] | CfA Workers United | OPEIU |
| Electronic Frontier Foundation | 2024[11] | IFPTE | |
| Every Texan | 2020[33] | Every Texan United | NPEU |
| Friends of the Earth (FOE) | 2023[34] | Friends of the Earth Workers United | NPEU |
| Jews United for Justice (JUFJ) | 2019[35] | NPEU | |
| Jobs to Move America (JMA) | 2020[36] | NPEU | |
| J Street | 2020[37] | J Street Workers Union | NPEU |
| Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law | 2020[38] | LC United | NPEU |
| Maryland Center on Economic Policy (MDCEP) | 2018[39] | NPEU | |
| National Immigration Law Center (NILC) | 2024[40] | NILC Union | NPEU |
| National Women's Law Center (NWLC) | 2022[41] | NWLC United | NPEU |
| Open Markets Institute (OMI) | 2020[42] | Union of Open Markets Staff | NPEU |
| Southern Poverty Law Center | 2019[43] | SPLC Union | WBNG |
| The Legal Aid Society | 1969 | LAS Attorneys United | ALAA Local 2325 |
| Urban Institute | 2021[44] | Urban Institute Employees Union | NPEU |