CWA 1180-Bird Union Members Vote to Authorize a STRIKE

More than two years since the workers at the National Audubon Society voted to join CWA Local 1180, Audubon management continues to drag their feet and refuse to make real progress or compromise at the bargaining table, all while discriminating against the union members and passing over the unionized portions of the workforce for benefits given to the non-union staff.

Last week, after yet another bargaining session with little-to-no movement by Audubon, the 1180-Bird Union members decided that enough is enough and held a three day strike authorization vote - the results were overwhelmingly in favor of striking.

Last year the National Labor Relations Board determined that the National Audubon Society violated federal labor law, 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—including parental leave time for new parents (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). 

With that in mind, 1180-Bird Union members are preparing for a possible Unfair Labor Practice strike later this month if Audubon does not come back to the table ready to bargain. With unionized staff based throughout the country, the strike would be a national effort, with picket lines from New York to California—and the members have already gotten started preparing, with practice pickets held earlier this month.

“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.”

Stay tuned for more updates in the coming days!