News and Media

DALLAS, TX - Approximately 80 employees at the national nonprofit organization International Rescue Committee (IRC) announced the formation of their union with the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 277.

The employees who provide a broad slate of services to refugees and asylum seekers in the resettlement process presented a letter to the Dallas office Executive Director, Shalaina Abioye on Wednesday requesting that the organization voluntarily recognize their union, IRC Workers Unite.

“An overwhelming majority of us have signed union cards and come forward because, as the staff that provide IRC services on the frontlines, we understand this work the best,” said Zarifa Barkatullah, Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) Coordinator. “We see this as an opportunity for leadership to partner with us to improve our work and better achieve our vital mission.”

Want to save more on home and auto insurance? Union Plus connects you with Farmers Insurance ChoiceSM where you can compare home and auto insurance quotes from top companies all in one place and choose the policies that may be right for you.

Get your free quotes today

Disclaimer:
Message produced and initiated by Union Privilege, 1100 First Street, NE, Suite 850, Washington, DC 20002. CA license #0E89960; NY license #1058096. Farmers Insurance Choice is used by agents, like Farmers General Insurance Agency, Inc. (CA License #0D25399) to provide a choice of providers, not just Farmers GroupSelect companies. Insurance is underwritten by Farmers Property and Casualty Insurance or certain of its affiliates: Economy Fire & Casualty Company, Economy Preferred Insurance Company, Farmers Casualty Insurance Company, Farmers Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Farmers Group Property and Casualty Insurance Company, or Farmers Lloyds Insurance Company of Texas, all with administrative home offices in Warwick, RI. List of licenses at   www.farmers.com. Coverage, rates, discounts, and policy features vary by state and product and are available in most states to those who qualify.  © 2023 Union Privilege, Inc., provider of Union Plus benefits. Unsubscribing here will not prevent your receipt of e-mail dispatched directly from Farmers GroupSelect, its affiliates, and/or other program carriers, as this e-mail is being initiated solely by Union Privilege.

This Labor Day weekend, we’re reflecting on the unprecedented opportunities and challenges faced by workers and their unions.

Across generations, unions remain widely popular, with majorities in every age bracket reporting they’d sign a union card. Workers across industries – from credit unions and nonprofits to tech companies and healthcare facilities – are filing for union elections at record levels.

Last year, more workers joined unions than the two previous years combined. This year, at the 29^th OPEIU Convention, convention delegates reaffirmed our union’s commitment to organizing the unorganized to bolster these numbers even further. The momentum and power we’ve collectively built in the past year has helped workers across the country realize and harness their own power in the workplace, giving them a bigger say over their futures.

We look forward to building upon this momentum even further in pursuit of our shared goals: economic, racial and social justice at work and in our communities. And we wish for you and your family a wonderful Labor Day.

In solidarity,