The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and ACLU of Texas Staff United — represented by the National Association of Legal Service Workers, UAW, Local 2320 (NOLSW) — proudly announce the signing of a first union contract.
The ACLU of Texas voluntarily recognized its employees’ union in 2022. Since then, staff and management have collaboratively crafted a collective bargaining agreement for one of the largest state affiliates of the ACLU.
A collective statement from the union’s bargaining team, which at the time of ratification included Savannah Kumar (President of ACLU of Texas Staff United), Blair Wallace (Vice President of ACLU of Texas Staff United), Angie Yamanaka, and Mary Ibarra:
“The ACLU of Texas was born out of worker power, rooted in the 1938 pecan sheller’s strike in San Antonio, where Mexican American laborers organized against exploitative conditions. Today, we honor and continue that legacy through the ratification of our first union contract. This contract is a testament to the radical tradition of organizing, solidarity, and collective action that fuels all movements for justice. We are proud that it creates a culture of transparency and equity while securing essential protections and benefits, including support for bill-paying, caregiving, grieving, and healing, so that workers can thrive, not just survive. The stability this contract provides allows us to better serve all Texans. We celebrate this moment with all staff, knowing that when workers win, we all win.”
A statement from Oni K. Blair (she/her), executive director of the ACLU of Texas:
“We are pleased to build on our organization’s legacy of supporting workers through this collective bargaining agreement, which formalizes our commitment to a healthy work environment that fosters fairness and mutual respect.”