Workers at The Trevor Project Form Union with Communications Workers of America

Today, employees at The Trevor Project announced that an overwhelming majority of them have signed cards indicating their desire to form a union with the Communications Workers of America. Their union, Friends of Trevor United/CWA (FTU/CWA), is seeking voluntary recognition from management in order to begin bargaining a fair contract that will create a formal grievance structure and safeguards around layoffs, raise workers’ pay, and grant access to best-in-class healthcare including gender-affirming services.

The union has delivered a letter demanding recognition to Interim CEO Peggy Rajski. In the letter, FTU/CWA supporters ask for voluntary recognition with deep respect for and commitment to The Trevor Project and its goals. They believe that joining together in a union and moving forward in a constructive relationship through collective bargaining is consistent with the company’s values.

Voluntary recognition is the best way to respect the right of workers to make their own choice about whether or not to join a union. It is the norm among progressive non-profit organizations: National Center for Transgender Equality, LYRIC Center for LGBTQ Youth, and the ACLU of Maryland, and many others have all voluntarily recognized unions. Large corporations, such as AT&T and Microsoft, and major non-profits, such as the Red Cross, Democracy Now!, National Public Radio, the Sunrise Movement, Greenpeace, and Sierra Club also voluntarily recognized unions when a majority of their employees signed union representation cards. Friends of Trevor United/CWA hopes The Trevor Project will not be an outlier.

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Friends of Trevor United/CWA are the workers of The Trevor Project. We are dedicated to creating a world where all LGBTQ+ young people see a bright future for themselves. We are a diverse coalition who bring unique experiences to our work. We are an extension of the community we serve, including people of color, disabled people, and trans and non-binary people. We are public servants who are committed to supporting our LGBTQ+ community.