Pittsburgh United staff affiliate with the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Katie Barrows, NPEU, kbarrows@npeu.org, (360) 624-6936

PITTSBURGH, April 20, 2020 - The staff of Pittsburgh United is proud to announce their affiliation with the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU) after winning voluntary recognition of their independent staff union, Pennsylvania Workers United, last fall. As the 23rd group of nonprofit employees to join NPEU and the sixth group this year, Pittsburgh United staff join the growing trend of nonprofit employees and movement of workers forming unions to have a stronger voice at their organizations.

“We are excited to join the ranks of the Nonprofit Professionals Employees Union.” said Jeimy Ibarra, a Digital Organizer with Pittsburgh United. “We unionized as a way to take care of ourselves in order to keep doing this work. We are stronger knowing our union siblings across the country have our backs as we negotiate our first contract. We look forward to supporting them in months and years to come.”

Pittsburgh United organizers convene coalitions and run campaigns to fight for  housing, environmental, and economic justice. Across Western Pennsylvania they are helping build powerful community membership organizations like Erie County United, Beaver County United, and the Voice of Westmoreland. Through forming a union and affiliating with NPEU, they hope to foster a more equitable and democratic workplace for the nonprofits.

“We welcome the staff of Pittsburgh United to NPEU,” said Kayla Blado, President of NPEU. “By organizing with NPEU, Pittsburgh United has become part of a union of nonprofit workers dedicated to ensuring our workplaces live our values. We look forward to supporting the workers of Pittsburgh United as they negotiate a first union contract that best fits their needs, as well as the organization’s mission.”

About the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union:

The Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU) represents professionals employed at 20 nonprofit organizations and counting, 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.