Friends of the Earth Ratifies First Union Contract
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Valeria Mejía-Guevara, NPEU, contact@npeu.org; Julie Dyer, Friends of the Earth, jdyer@foe.org, foeworkersunited@gmail.com
WASHINGTON, June 8, 2023 — Friends of the Earth (FoE) and the staff union, Friends of the Earth Workers United, are proud to announce the ratification of their first union contract. This contract marks the end of negotiations and the first collective bargaining agreement with management at Friends of the Earth, which was unanimously ratified by members of FOE Workers United.
FOE Workers United unionized through the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union in July 2020 and received almost immediate voluntary recognition from management. Since then, the union has represented the collective interests of staff, working with management to improve workplace conditions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting inflation.
"At Friends of the Earth, we strongly believe in the rights of workers, and we are proud of our first-ever collective bargaining agreement with Friends of the Earth Workers United,” said Erich Pica, President of Friends of the Earth. “The staff of Friends of the Earth worked collectively to organize and bargain over their employment conditions, and I deeply appreciate the leadership and intentionality Friends of the Earth Workers United brings to our organization as we collectively commit to creating a planet and workplace that is more healthy and just.”
With this new contract, staff at Friends of the Earth have secured improvements in pay, benefits, remote work conditions, and more. Contract highlights include:
Increased office closures, holidays, sick, parental and bereavement leave
Summer Fridays
Increased flexibility in work schedules, remote work and travel
A guaranteed annual salary increase for staff.
Equitable and guaranteed salary increases for lower-paid staff
Increases to staff input in diversity, equity and inclusion efforts within the organization
“We are thrilled to have reached our first contract with management at Friends of the Earth U.S.,” said FOE Workers United leaders. “This process has been a true labor of love and we are excited to continue partnering with Friends of the Earth to make the organization a great place to work and a leader in the climate and environmental movements.”
“Congratulations to Friends of the Earth Workers United on the ratification of their first collective bargaining agreement,” said NPEU President Hayley Brown. “A just transition to a green future requires that workers have a seat at the table. NPEU is excited to see you continue to raise the bar in your workplace and across our industry.”
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 Brookings Institution, 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 Friends of the Earth:
Friends of the Earth fights to create a more healthy and just world. Our current campaigns focus on promoting clean energy and solutions to climate change, ensuring the food we eat and products we use are safe and sustainable, and protecting marine ecosystems and the people who live and work near them.
About Friends of the Earth Workers United:
Friends of the Earth Workers United is the staff union at Friends of the Earth. We are an NPEU member unit and a participant in the Earth Day to May Day Coalition. We aim to further a healthy and just workplace at our organization and throughout the climate movement. Follow us on Twitter @FOEWorkers.