Lawyers’ Committee voluntarily recognizes staff union

The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee) yesterday voluntarily recognized the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU) as the collective bargaining representative of the 46 staff members at the organization. The staff’s union, LC United, was certified after a card-check confirmed majority support for the union. “Labor organizing has figured prominently in our nation's long struggle for racial justice,” said Lawyers’ Committee president and executive director Kristen Clarke. “We are excited to be recognized and work with management to ensure better workplace protections and conditions for our deserving and dedicated staff,” said the LC United organizing committee. LC United represents a broad unit of staff and professional employees at the organization. The parties will soon begin negotiations for a collective bargaining agreement. The voluntary recognition came after management had backed off on its original agreement to card check and demanded an election earlier this month.