The Democracy Collaborative and The Democracy Collaborative Workers' Union Agree to Fair Severance Package for Laid-Off Staff

The Democracy Collaborative (TDC), the TDC Workers' Union (TDCWU), and the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU) have successfully concluded negotiations over a fair severance package for six union workers who are being laid off as a result of a reorganization at TDC.

To reflect the impact of COVID-19 and our current economic climate, we have agreed to a package of protections that goes well beyond the baseline severance provisions for layoffs agreed to in TDC’s union contract. The contract was negotiated during pre-pandemic conditions, and the new package, which includes robust severance, extended healthcare coverage, and professional development support, is intended to support workers during an unprecedented time of uncertainty. 

Ted Howard, President and Co-Founder of The Democracy Collaborative: “The world is changing, and TDC is changing with it. We are pleased to have reached a standard-setting new agreement for those workers impacted by TDC’s reorganization.  Each employee was a valuable member of our team, and we sincerely regret that we will lose the benefit of their talent and passion. We look forward to seeing how they will use those talents in new ways to make the world a better place. We are glad that our organization and our union have been able to come together around a generous severance package, which includes additional support to find new employment, and we look forward to continued and improving relations between management and the union at TDC in service to our mission of advancing community wealth and transforming the economy and our communities.” 

Kayla Blado, President of the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union: “NPEU is glad that TDC management engaged in productive negotiations with the union and agreed to a fair severance package for their workers. All workers deserve economic security in a pandemic, and I am proud of the bargaining team for securing a robust package of support. NPEU has been continually impressed by the work and leadership of the union at TDC, and know they will continue to advance the work they care so deeply about. We will continue to support workers at TDC as they enter this new phase of the organization.” 

Johanna Bozuwa and Claire Brawdy, representatives for TDCWU: “We are proud that we were able to reach an agreement that secures strong benefits for our members during a time of high unemployment and hardship and are grateful for the support and solidarity we received throughout this process. This agreement would not have been possible without our members, the support of NPEU and IFPTE, and the strong foundation established by our contract. The union is ready to begin the next chapter of TDC and will continue to support our members and to work with TDC management to become a stronger organization, grounded in racial equity and a vision for a more democratic economy.”

TDC Workers’ Union

Nonprofit Professional Employees Union

The Democracy Collaborative

November 24, 2020

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The Democracy Collaborative, founded in 2000, is an international research and development lab for the democratic economy, headquartered in Washington, DC and Cleveland, Ohio. TDC works to advance models and pathways to an economic system where broad-based ownership and control creates more equitable and inclusive outcomes, fosters ecological sustainability, and promotes flourishing democratic and community life.  Learn more at democracycollaborative.org.

Nonprofit Professional Employees Union, IFPTE Local 70, represents over thirty nonprofit organizations nationally, including employees at Economic Policy Institute, the Center for American Progress, and Community Change. With several hundred members, NPEU gives nonprofit workers a voice to strengthen their workplaces and continue to do work that makes a difference in people’s lives. Learn more at npeu.org.

Contacts:

Isaiah Poole, Director of Communications, The Democracy Collaborative, ipoole@democracycollaborative.org

Katie Barrows, Vice President of Communications, Nonprofit Professional Employees Union, kbarrows@npeu.org

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