After Two Years Of Bargaining, A ULP Strike Has Been Called Against Non-Profit MDRC
Union staffers claim the non-profit has changed the status quo during negotiations for a first contract.
By Peter List, Editor | June 3, 2024
After more than two years of negotiations for a first contract with MDRC, a social policy research organization focused on programs and policies affecting people with low incomes, members of Social Policy Workers United (SPWU), the staff union at MDRC, have voted to authorize a three-day Unfair Labor Practice Strike to protest withheld wage increases that target members of the union.
The Social Policy Workers United (SPWU) is an affiliate of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and unionized MDRC in 2021 through voluntary recognition.
However, since 2021, the union and MDRC have been at odds while trying to reach an agreement.
Changing the ‘status quo’
“After nearly two years of bargaining, MDRC Management decided to withhold year end wage increases to union members, while implementing them to employees outside the bargaining unit, presumably to pressure the union,” the union stated in a press release. “This violates MDRC’s longstanding policy and behavior earlier in negotiations, and has caused undue hardship on MDRC’s union employees, when many are struggling to make ends meet. Each day that MDRC Management chooses to withhold wage increases, they cause more harm to over 170 MDRC workers.”
In early May, the union filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleging that MDRC “violated the dynamic status quo by refusing to bargain in good faith over end of year raises and promotions, citing that they were withholding these raises until the parties concluded bargaining for a first Collective Bargaining Agreement.”
MDRC derives its $66 million budget from a wide variety of sources, including federal, state, and city government contracts, according to its website, as well as foundations, corporations, and individuals.
According to MDRC’s website, more than half of its revenues in 2022 came from federal, state and local governments.
The union stated that it will be picketing MDRC Offices at their headquarters in New York, in addition to MDRC satellite offices in Washington, DC and Oakland, CA.
When asked for comment, MDRC did not respond. If a response is provided, this post will be updated.
