Over 600 workers across all Housing Works locations in New York City voted to join the RWDSU/UFCW by an overwhelming margin on Dec. 23. This organizing victory was the largest union election in New York in 2020 and marked the end of two years of organizing by the workers for fair representation and a seat at the table.
Housing Works is a nonprofit that works with people living with and affected by HIV/AIDs and homelessness, and the workers in the bargaining unit handle maintenance, legal work, casework, social work, health care and retail at Housing Works facilities. The vote to unionize by workers at Housing Works was conducted by mail-in vote, with ballots due at the Labor Board by Dec. 14, 2020 for tabulation. The RWDSU/UFCW will represent the workers during contract negotiations, which will commence this year.
“We’re proud to finally and officially welcome the 605 workers employed by Housing Works into our union,” said RWDSU/UFCW President Stuart Appelbaum. “These workers experienced a needlessly long fight to unionize their workplace. Their tenacity and fortitude never wavered in this unnecessarily long process, which was stalled by their employer at every turn. Together, they are ready to win a strong contract that will only enhance their ability to care for the Housing Works community. The results of this union election continue to show that the best way for working people to protect themselves and their families is to join together in a union.”