WBNG Wins Representation Vote at Advancement Project

The Washington-Baltimore News Guild has added a 30th shop to the local’s slate of bargaining units. Employees of the Advancement Project on Jan. 10 voted 11-2 in favor of WBNG representation.

The civil rights organization that works “on-the-ground… to develop and inspire community-based solutions” has its national headquarters in Washington and an office in Los Angeles. The nonprofit organization (advancementproject.org/content/home) works on issues such as immigrant justice, rights restoration, and voter protection.

Guild members at the Advancement Project include attorneys, campaign and project managers, and administrative and communications staff. Bruce C. Jett, the WBNG Organizing Consultant, said that he expects the bargaining unit to comprise at least 15 workers, a dozen of whom are in Washington.

Jett and WBNG Executive Director Cet Parks credited TNG’s Digital Media Organizer Melinda Fiedler with the “heavy lifting” during the organizing campaign, which began last fall. “WBNG board member Chris Stergalas assisted with the initial contact to help move the campaign forward,” Parks said.  

The Advancement Project joins the FP Group (20 workers in the bargaining unit) and the Center for Popular Democracy (36 workers to be represented by a CBA) as Local 32035 units negotiating their first Guild contracts.

WBNG has 27 collective bargaining agreements in place with 26 employers. Currently negotiating successor contracts are the 63-member unit at UFCW headquarters and the 17-member unit at Jobs with Justice.