This was originally posted by the Washington-Baltimore News Guild on May 15.
WASHINGTON– The ACLU of DC Staff Union has ratified a first contract, securing a landmark agreement that delivers sweeping gains in wages, benefits, job security, and workplace flexibility following voluntary recognition in May 2023. The contract stands as one of the strongest first agreements won by any union local in the region.
“We spent nearly three years at the bargaining table fighting for a contract that reflects the value of the work we do every day to protect civil liberties in the District,” said Yvonne Slosarski, bargaining committee chair. “This agreement delivers for every member of our unit, and it sets a new standard for what nonprofit workers can and should win.”
Notable wins include:
- Historic wage gains:
- Average 11.5% raise
- $4,000 ratification bonus for all unit members
- Tiered annual raises: 4% for employees earning under $110,000 and 3% for those earning above
- Minimum salary of $72,000, with all current unit members earning $85,000 or more
- Employees who receive promotions are guaranteed a minimum 8% raise
- Unmatched benefits:
- $435 per month to help members tackle the burden of student debt, the largest student loan repayment program at WBNG
- Full employer payment of health insurance premiums regardless of the number of dependents, eliminating a cost that disproportionately burdens workers with families
- Robust time off and leave:
- 17 paid holidays
- 4 weeks starting vacation leave, with 15 days of annual rollover
- 15 days of sick leave and 5 days of personal leave
- 10 days of bereavement leave
- 16 weeks of parental and medical leave
- 3-month sabbatical after 5 years of service
- Strong job security and workplace protections:
- Layoff protections with 45 days notice,
- Requirement to meet and confer about alternatives for layoffs
- 3 weeks minimum for severance and 6 months of health insurance
- Required four-step disciplinary process for any just-cause discipline, ensuring due process on the job
- Clear conflict of interest definition to govern approvals for outside activities, providing transparency and fairness for all unit members
- Four-month probationary period
- Flexible work:
- Every employee may choose their own work location each fiscal year: hybrid, fully in-office, or fully remote
The ACLU of DC Staff Union’s first contract is proof that when workers organize and stand together, they win, and that civil liberties organizations must lead by example when it comes to the rights of their own employees.
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ABOUT THE ACLU OF DC STAFF UNION
The ACLU of DC Staff Union represents employees of the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, DC. The union is affiliated with the Washington-Baltimore News Guild. Members of the bargaining unit work to advance civil liberties and civil rights across the District of Columbia.
ABOUT THE WASHINGTON-BALTIMORE NEWS GUILD
The Washington-Baltimore News Guild, Local 32035 of the Communications Workers of America, the union for more than 3,000 news, information, nonprofit and labor organization workers in the mid-Atlantic and beyond, including the Washington Post, Environmental Defense Fund, AFL-CIO, Bloomberg and the American Nurses Association (ANA). Together, we hold our employers accountable and ensure that our workplaces reflect our values, which include ensuring everyone is free from harassment and retaliation, earns equal pay for equal work and has a voice in their workplace.