Bird Union-CWA Local 1180 Authorizes Strike at Audubon

After Audubon violates labor laws, workers prepare for national strike

NATIONWIDE – The National Labor Relations Board has determined that the National Audubon Society violated federal labor law and is expected to issue a complaint in the coming days alleging that Audubon unlawfully made unilateral changes to benefits, refused to bargain over minimum salaries, and denied union members benefits that were given to non-union staff. Audubon’s unfair labor practices even impacted sensitive employment benefits, such as the time a new parent could take parental leave. Union staff at Audubon are currently eligible for only two weeks of paid parental leave to care for a newborn, while non-union staff have received enhanced parental leave benefits since the start of contract negotiations.

Workers at the National Audubon Society—who are represented by the Communications Workers of America Local 1180 (Bird Union-CWA Local 1180)—have voted overwhelmingly to authorize union leadership to call a strike if the national environmental nonprofit continues to violate the workers’ rights under federal labor laws.

The Bird Union-CWA Local 1180 and Audubon have been negotiating for a first contract for over two years, during which time Audubon committed unfair labor practices. Delay tactics and bad faith bargaining by Audubon’s paid negotiators have prevented the union workers and the organization from moving forward to reaching a fair contract. In violation of federal labor law, the organization unilaterally imposed changes to the union members’ healthcare plan without negotiating with the union. The new plan raised costs for union members. Healthcare benefits are a mandatory subject of bargaining that must be negotiated in good faith. Audubon also refused to bargain with its union employees over minimum salaries and refused to share the market wage data used to develop the new salary structure.

“We formed our union with the goal of sitting down with management and working through persistent problems that have driven away dedicated workers, undermining our work,” said Shyamlee Patel, a Bird Union-CWA Local 1180 member. “But instead of bargaining in good faith, Audubon has made unlawful, unilateral changes to the benefits we rely on, even raising out-of-pocket healthcare costs for the lowest-paid staff by $2,000 per year. It's outrageous, and why we're ready to stand together to protect the people who protect the birds.”

“Throughout negotiations, Audubon has shown a clear disregard for their workers’ rights,” said Gloria Middleton, President of CWA Local 1180. “Our members want to be on the job, protecting the birds, but they are prepared to stand together to protect the rights the NLRA affords them.”

This summer, Bird Union-CWA Local 1180 members have held practice pickets and other strike preparation actions in 26 states and the District of Columbia as part of a national mobilization effort.

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About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

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