URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity Staff Announces Union with Nonprofit Professional Employees Union
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Katie Barrows, NPEU, kbarrows@npeu.org, 360-624-6936
WASHINGTON, June 29, 2020—The Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU) is thrilled to welcome the staff at United for Reproductive & Gender Equity to our growing family of nonprofit workers. The Workers United for Reproductive and Gender Equity (WURGE) made a formal request to URGE management for voluntary recognition on June 22nd, and looks forward to reaching a formal agreement.
Originally founded as ChoiceUSA, URGE made the intentional decision six years ago to shift to a Reproductive Justice framework and work to dismantle patriarchy and white supremacy. This movement is led by young Black folks, Indigenous folks, people of color who are women, queer, trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming, disabled, fat, immigrants, and people with low-incomes in the South and Midwest. Together, we shave shown our power in fighting to end abortion stigma, resisting harmful federal and state legislation, and combating reproductive oppression.
WURGE, along with NPEU, releases the following statements:
“We believe that unionizing is inherent to a fight for a more just world under dominant systems of white supremacy, capitalism, and cisheteropatriarchy. URGE will undoubtedly be strengthened by the formation of Workers United for Reproductive & Gender Equity (WURGE). We know that our union will further solidify URGE’s commitment to being impact-driven, bold, and center the needs of young organizers, said representatives of WURGE. We see unionizing as one way to do the internal work necessary to root out white supremacy, colonialism, patriarchy, ableism, and elitism in the workplace, which will only strengthen our ability to show up in the external movement.”
“We are overjoyed to welcome the Workers United for Reproductive and Gender Equity to NPEU!” said NPEU President Kayla Blado. “Reproductive justice and gender equity are deeply connected to workers’ rights. I am excited to work together to dismantle systems of oppression and lift up the voices of the workers of URGE and their important work.”
About NPEU:
The Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU) is a local of IFPTE and represents professionals employed at more than 25 nonprofit organizations, 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.