CPPP United and Center for Public Policy Priorities Celebrate Staff Creation of Union
Voluntary recognition spreads the nonprofit union trend to Texas
Contacts:
Katie Barrows, Nonprofit Professional Employees Union: 360-624-6936
Oliver Bernstein, CPPP Communications Director: 512-289-8618
Austin, February 4, 2020 — Center for Public Policy Priorities (CPPP) employees and management announced today that they have signed a voluntary agreement recognizing the formation of a staff union. The union, CPPP United, joins the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) Local 70. The agreement reflects a growing trend of unionization among the nation’s over 12 million non-profit employees.
CPPP believes every Texan should be healthy, well-educated and financially secure. As an independent public policy organization, CPPP uses data and analysis to advocate for solutions that enable Texans of all backgrounds to thrive.
“We, the CPPP staff members, take great pride in our work at CPPP and are deeply committed to our organization’s mission," said CPPP Deputy Legislative & Policy Director Mia Ibarra. "A union will help us further that mission while working in solidarity as part of a growing national organized labor movement focused on achieving economic and social justice. . We look forward to working with CPPP leadership on a contract that reflects our organizational values.”
“I am excited, along with our entire leadership team and board of directors, to support our new staff union, ” said CPPP CEO Ann Beeson. “Our talented and committed staff are CPPP’s greatest strength, and we look forward to working together to support our colleagues, live our values and advance our mission."
Reflecting how deeply CPPP values and supports workers, the organization is proud to have voluntarily recognized its staff union.
“We welcome the staff of CPPP to our union,” said NPEU President Kayla Blado. “CPPP employees, like an increasing number of nonprofit workers, realized they can live their values and strengthen their organization with a staff union. We are excited to support them as they negotiate a strong, worker-focused contract.”
Texas State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, whose first legal job was with the AFSCME union in Washington, DC, certified union authorization cards signed by CPPP staff. The union is unanimously supported by eligible staff.
CPPP and NPEU members will now work collaboratively to negotiate a union contract that reflects their shared values.
About Nonprofit Professional Employees Union:
The Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU) represents professionals employed at over a dozen nonprofit organizations, including employees at the 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. For more information about NPEU, visit www.npeu.org.
About The Center for Public Policy Priorities:
At the Center for Public Policy Priorities, we envision a Texas where people of all backgrounds can contribute to and share in the prosperity of our state. One of the most effective ways to make sure every Texan has access to these conditions is to strengthen public policy. For 35 years, we have been proven experts in strengthening public policy to expand opportunity and equity for every Texan. www.CPPP.org