Union of Open Markets Staff Signs First Collective Bargaining Agreement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Valeria Mejía-Guevara, NPEU, contact@npeu.org; Ashley Woolheater, Open Markets Institute, woolheater@openmarketsinstitute.org
WASHINGTON, April 3, 2023 — Union of Open Markets Staff and Open Markets Institute have ratified their inaugural collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The agreement is the first union contract for employees at Open Markets, who formed a union with Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU) that was voluntarily recognized by Open Markets on March 2, 2020.
“We formed the Union of Open Markets Staff to live out our commitment to economic democracy and stand in solidarity with fellow nonprofit workers,” said the Union of Open Markets Staff bargaining committee. “With this contract, we’re proud to support our members and their families by ensuring fair compensation, opportunities for advancement, and a voice on the job. We believe this contract will strengthen Open Markets as an organization and we thank all our bargaining members, past and present, that made it a reality.”
"As an organization deeply committed to economic democracy and a fair distribution of power, we are proud to announce the first collective bargaining agreement between Open Markets Institute and the Open Markets staff,” said the Open Markets Institute Management Team. “The unionization of our workforce represents our steadfast belief that all workers should be able to exercise their rights through collective bargaining, which makes our society stronger and more democratic.”
With ratification of the contract, Open Markets employees have established just cause protections, salary floors, and a Labor Management Committee. Contract highlights include:
Established job tiers and salary floors, including a minimum $56,000 salary floor
Guaranteed annual raises
New personal days, half-day summer Fridays, and improved paid parental leave
Greater, automatically vested 401(k) contributions
Commitment to a hybrid workplace with at least two weekly telework days and the ability to request more flexible arrangements
A professional development and tuition reimbursement fund of up to $4,000 per year per employee
Union involvement in hiring committees and implementation of the “Double Rooney Rule” as part of broader diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments in hiring and retention
Enshrined Open Markets' commitment to unlimited sick days and paying 100% of full-time employees health insurance premiums
“Congratulations to Open Markets on the ratification of a strong first contract,” said NPEU President Hayley Brown. “This agreement reflects a commitment to living the organization’s values, and will help raise standards in their workplace and beyond.”
About Nonprofit Professional Employees Union:
The Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU), a local of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, represents employees at over fifty nonprofit organizations, including Food and Water Watch, the Center for American Progress, and Action Squared. With over a thousand 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 Union of Open Markets Staff:
Union of Open Market Staff is a union run by the employees at the Open Markets Institute and an affiliate of the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union. The Union of Open Markets Staff is committed to building a democratic workplace and ensuring all voices within an organization are heard.
About Open Markets Institute:
The Open Markets Institute is a leading voice on antimonopoly policy. Open Markets seeks not only to hold today’s monopolies accountable for abuse of power, but to rebuild an economic system where progress is easier to achieve, because power is far more widely and equitably distributed.