WASHINGTON – The staff of the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) today request voluntary recognition of their union, NLIHC Workers United. A supermajority (96%) of workers, 28 employees, have signed union authorization cards, demonstrating their desire to be represented by the Washington-Baltimore News Guild (WBNG).
For over fifty years, NLIHC has been a leading voice for equity, integrity, and fairness – in their work, with their members and partners, and on the national stage. NLIHC is dedicated to achieving racially and socially equitable public policy that ensures people with the lowest incomes have quality homes that are accessible and affordable in communities of their choice. As workers of a mission driven, values based organization, the staff of NLIHC know “there’s nothing about us without us.” A years-long effort in the making, today they come together with the hope of advancing three major priorities – transparency, staff development and support, and collaboration – with the creation of their union. A union will give these workers a concrete mechanism to ensure shared values extend to the workforce.
“NLIHC was the first job I took on after graduate school, and was immediately the place I knew I wanted to be at. It’s where I have developed a life-long passion for housing justice, and it’s the place I hope I can give back to others in the ways it’s given to me. This is why I am joining our union – for the belief that our organization is stronger when we stand together, with our guiding, core mission being the catalyst for what we do ” – Nada Hussein
“I want a union so that my colleagues can be protected against unfair labor practices. Organizing the unit has been such a humbling experience and it makes me so happy to see so many of my colleagues in solidarity with one another. As a union baby to now being a union member, I am so excited to see the positive change this union will create for current and future NLIHC employees!” – Sidney Betancourt
“As an organization rooted in equity and choice, it is only responsible for its workers to have access to the same promise—to root equity in organizational decision-making and to have a choice in how those decisions affect our work.” – Carlton Taylor, Jr.
“My colleagues at NLIHC are some of the most knowledgeable, dedicated, passionate and all around good people that I have ever had the joy to work with. We take pride in our work and want to excel in roles not just for our own ambitions, but to truly realize a racially and socially equitable world where all people have a home where they can truly thrive. This must begin internally as staff first. That is why I am in solidarity with the colleagues” – Thaddaeus Elliot
“We constantly tell our partners to form and support tenant unions across the country to build meaningful power. It makes sense that we, as NLIHC staff, do the same to further the mission that we all believe in.” – Billy Cerullo
The staff of NLIHC remain hopeful for a speedy, voluntary recognition of their union. Voluntary recognition would send a firm message that NLIHC truly remains committed to their mission. To stay in touch and support NLIHC Workers United’s efforts, follow @nlihcworkersunited, like, and repost.
Media contacts:
Kathleen Floyd, WBNG: kfloyd@wbng.org
NLIHC Staff Union: nlihcstaffunion@gmail.com
ABOUT THE NLIHC WORKERS UNITED
The NLIHC Workers United of the Washington-Baltimore News Guild, Local 32035, is the union for 28 policy, research, field, operations, fundraising, and campaigns nonprofit workers of the National Low Income Housing Coalition in the DMV and beyond. In alignment with NLIHC’s mission, together, we ensure that our values of equity, integrity, fairness, and having a say also extend to our workplace.
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, AFL-CIO, POLITICO 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.