OPEIU Local 12: Nonprofit workers win voluntary union recognition

Sometimes non-profit organizations go to great lengths to oppose efforts by their employees to unionize.

But, at Minneapolis-based The Advocates for Human Rights, management quickly agreed to voluntary union recognition after receiving a worker petition.

OPEIU Local 12 announced via Facebook February 2, “organizers at AHR United brought management a petition signed by 84 percent of all employees and had management’s voluntary recognition confirmed within 24 hours of going public. AHR management did what few others often do — swiftly and openly recognized that rank and file workers are an organization’s greatest asset.”

The new bargaining unit will include about two dozen workers and Local 12 reported 20 percent already are involved in the Contract Action Team.