Workers of Color Of Change win voluntary union recognition

Oct. 28, 2020 – Staffers of Color Of Change, one of the nation’s largest racial justice organizations, announced Wednesday that they have won voluntary union recognition from management. They will be represented by the Washington-Baltimore News Guild local of The NewsGuild-CWA.

“Our vision is a world where justice is real for Black people, including reparations for generations of harm, equitable opportunities for Black people to thrive, and a more democratic society that allows communities to have control over their own structures and decisions,” they wrote.

To fight for that vision, “We need our organization to be sustainable for the long-term, nurturing our people and modeling the values of the just world we want to see in our everyday work,” they said.

Approximately 50 employees of the staff of more than 100 will be members of the union.

Employees believe their union will help create a sustainable working environment that “encourages growth and Black Joy and prevents burnout from the taxing daily work of combating anti-Blackness” and will enable Color Of Change to better align better with the movements they support.

The union also will empower employees to negotiate for a work environment where they feel valued, respected, and recognized as true partners in the future of the organization, including job protection, more transparent and inclusive decision-making, clear paths to promotion, investment in professional growth, and more.

“We are glad that Color Of Change’s leadership agrees that forming a union is the right move for our organization in this critical moment,” employees wrote in their announcement. “We look forward to continuing to manifest our vision of justice for Black people, and are excited to commit to the work together as we step into our next 15 years and beyond.”

Follow Color Of Change Union on Twitter @coc_union.