Center for American Progress Staff Ratifies New Union Contract, Raising Salary Minimums
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kaitlin Bell, NPEU, kbell@npeu.org, 806-752-0529
WASHINGTON, March 21, 2022 – The more than 90 members of the Center of American Progress (CAP) Union overwhelmingly voted to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement, raising salaries for employees in all job classifications as well as codifying other workplace improvements. This agreement is the third union contract for employees of CAP, who formed a union with the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU) in 2016.
“We are extremely excited to have reached an agreement with CAP management that reflects the priorities of our members. This wouldn’t have been possible without the solidarity of our members throughout these negotiations,” said CAP Union President Marissa Alayna Navarro.
“CAP is the impactful organization it is because of the smart, passionate, and talented people who work here,” said CAP Executive Vice President for communications and strategy Daniella Gibbs Leger. “We are pleased to have reached an agreement on this contract and look forward to continuing the hard work ahead – working to make this country a more fair and just place for all of its citizens, centering the most vulnerable among us.”
The newly ratified contract raises pay for all unit employees, improves workplace transparency, and increases equity at the organization. Specific contract highlights include:
Increases to all job classifications’ minimum salaries, with an organization salary floor of $48,000 in the first year of the contract, $49,000 in the second year, and $50,000 in the final year of the contract.
Guaranteed annual raises of 2.5% for those making less than $68,000 and guaranteed annual raises of 2% for those making over $68,000.
A 360-review process at mid-year and end-year performance reviews.
A minimum of four weeks for severance pay, which includes health/dental coverage for three months.
Procedures to limit overtime work.
Provisions to encourage internal hiring.
Credit for union members’ contributions to a work product, including by being listed as an author, co-author, or included in the acknowledgements.
“Congratulations to CAP Union for ratifying a strong contract that will raise standards at CAP, think tanks, and nonprofits across the country,” said NPEU President Katie Barrows. “By standing united, CAP Union members made their concerns heard and secured fair, progressive wages.”
About NPEU:
The Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU), a local of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, represents professionals employed at more than 40 nonprofit organizations (and counting), 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.
About Center for American Progress:
The Center for American Progress is a nonpartisan research and educational institute dedicated to promoting a strong, just and free America that ensures opportunity for all. We believe that Americans are bound together by a common commitment to these values and we aspire to ensure that our national policies reflect these values. We work to find progressive and pragmatic solutions to significant domestic and international problems and develop policy proposals that foster a government that is “of the people, by the people, and for the people.