International Rescue Committee (IRC) Workers Announce Unionization with OPEIU Local 153

A supermajority of employees from the International Rescue Committee office of New York have announced 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 announce the formation of their union with OPEIU, and IRC NYC workers have called on IRC leadership to avoid a wasteful and lengthy election process by voluntarily recognizing their union.

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’re unionizing because we believe we are stronger as a workplace when we’re organized together,” says Aaron Banen, a Youth Program Specialist at the IRC NY. “We join several other IRC offices that have recently unionized that face similar workplace struggles such as large caseloads, work-life balance concerns, and more. We also believe it is in the best interest of the clients we serve, that unionizing will allow us to provide better quality services to these vulnerable populations, especially concerning the current political climate.”

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. Read more here!