(NEW YORK, NY) – Nearly 100 investigators and interpreters employed at The Legal Aid Society officially announced today that they would unionize with the the United Auto Workers (UAW), a labor organization which already represents thousands of legal services workers in New York City.
The organization formed by investigators and interpreters was swiftly recognized by Legal Aid, where they will join thousands of unionized attorneys and non-attorney advocates who are organized respectively with the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys – UAW Local 2325 and SEIU 1199.
“Unions play a critical role in our city and with our organization, and The Legal Aid Society is proud to support our interpreters and investigators as official members of the UAW,” said Janet Sabel, Attorney-in-Chief of the Legal Aid Society. “The Legal Aid Society looks forward to continuing to work with the UAW on ways to improve the workplace for our employees and on issues critical to our clients and the communities we serve.”
“We congratulate the interpreters and investigators of the Legal Aid Society on joining the thousands of unionized legal services workers in UAW Region 9A” said Beverley Brakeman, Regional Director of UAW Region 9A. “We commend the Legal Aid Society for their voluntary recognition of the overwhelming desire of these workers to join the UAW and look forward to bargaining a first contract which further improves the quality of representation of marginalized New Yorkers during this unprecedented pandemic.”
The United Auto Workers represents thousands of legal services workers in New York City including at the Legal Aid Society, Legal Services NYC, New York Legal Assistance Group, The Bronx Defenders, the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, among many others.
The Legal Aid Society exists for one simple yet powerful reason: to ensure that New Yorkers are not denied their right to equal justice because of poverty. For over 140 years, we have protected, defended, and advocated for those who have struggled in silence for far too long. Every day, in every borough, The Legal Aid Society changes the lives of our clients and helps improve our communities.