Despite sweltering heat and obstructive roadblocks ahead of this week’s NATO summit, the staff of Defenders of Wildlife took to the street July 9th and 10th outside the conservation organization’s downtown D.C. offices to protest its unfair labor practices. Approximately 80 workers belong to the staff union Defenders United, which was organized under OPEIU Local 2 in 2021. Since then, they’ve been fighting a vicious anti-union campaign standing between them and their first union contract.
Among the many other unfair practices, the nonprofit’s management has revoked scheduled raises and withheld improved benefits such as family and bereavement leave from those belonging to the union. Defenders United claim that targeting union members in this way is unambiguous unlawful retaliation.
“Enough is enough,” said Kathleen Callaghy, a member of Defenders United’s Contract Action Team. “We work hard every day trying to save America’s wildlife, earning salaries that don’t keep pace with inflation. Withholding raises and extended maternity and bereavement leave specifically from unionized workers – the lowest paid staff in the organization – is, to us, clear discrimination and retaliation against unionized staff.”
While the NLRB is investigating the unfair labor practice charges, the union has tried to bring management back to the negotiating table to resolve things the old-fashioned way. Nevertheless, management has stonewalled in hopes that Defenders of Wildlife’s new leadership taking over in August will get stuck with the mess.
This was unacceptable to the Defenders United workers, who said enough was enough and hit the bricks. Joining them on the picket line on the first day of the walkout were MTD Executive Secretary-Treasurer Mark Clements and Administrator/Chief of Staff Brittanie Potter. Later in the day, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and OPEIU President (and MTD Executive Board member) Richard Lanigan were slated to appear.
For more information on Defenders United and their contract battle, click here.