Learn more about NEU

Nonprofit employees uniting to empower our
workplaces and strengthen our communities

Who We Are

We are the union for nonprofit employees. NEU – Nonprofit Employees United – is a collective of thousands of non-profit union members. Members belong to the Office and Professional Employees International Union, AFL-CIO and work in nonprofit advocacy and social service organizations all over the country.

Learn More

Why Join NEU

Our members have improved their nonprofit workplaces by raising wages to help members afford to live in the communities they serve; securing better health care and paid leave benefits; creating systems for employee input and involvement to ensure more effective programs and services; negotiating for policies to make work safer and reduce burnout and more. We work to build strong labor standards to reflect the value of the work we do for the greater good of society.

Join Now

We’re Nonprofit Employees United

“One reason we formed our union is because employees who do our kind of work need greater respect and value from society. If more of us in social services were united and calling for better standards, we’d have even more power to make a difference.”

“On a daily basis we fight for the rights of our clients. Our union makes it easier for us to do this hard and rewarding work. We have benefits and an economic future we can depend on for ourselves and our families, which means we can afford to stay longer at a job we love. When morale and turnover improve, that helps our agencies do what they do best.”

“A voice on the job, transparency, consistent policies were some of the reasons we united in our own employee organization. We felt a union would empower us to advocate for ourselves in a productive and collaborative way, and be a positive force for our organization.”

Declaration of Nonprofit Worker Rights

Social service and housing workers provide the tools and support necessary to help everyone in our communities reach their full potential. Although it requires a unique set of skills and training, this work is most often characterized by substandard wages, benefits and working conditions that threaten the well-being of the workers and their families. We must build a foundation for minimum labor standards in this industry to reflect the value of the work and to strengthen our communities and hold our elected leaders accountable for providing necessary funding.

Join Us

Wages

Compensation must reflect median area income allowing workers to live in the community they serve, provide for themselves and their families, keep up with rising cost of living and stay in jobs longterm without having to rely on social services themselves. Longevity premiums should recognize years of service.

Minimum Staffing and Safety

Every shift in supportive housing and emergency shelters must be covered by a minimum of two qualified workers to provide as safe an environment as possible.

Training

Must be uniform and include basic safety and crisis prevention training immediately after hire, with additional trainings that prepare workers to deal with the practicalities of their positions and contextualize their clients’ lived experiences.

Traumatic Experiences and Self-Care

Vicarious trauma leads to compassion fatigue and burnout, contributing to high turnover.

Provide paid leave after experiencing a traumatic event to allow workers to recover without financial hardship.
Explore other solutions such as paid self-care leave, expanded access to mental health services through Employee Assistance Programs, gym memberships or other solutions.

Medical Insurance and Insurance for Families

All social service workers should be provided medical coverage that allows them to care for themselves and their families. Currently many workers must cover their children through Medicaid.

Retirement Benefits

Employer contributions to retirement plan that will allow workers to retire after a career in social service.

Just Cause and Grievance Process

Just Cause and a fair grievance process provide an accessible, fair method for conflict resolution in the workplace.

Seniority

Seniority protections provide a consistent, unbiased standard to act as the determining factor in decisions such as promotions, transfers, layoffs, and rehires.

Scheduling and differentials

In recognition of the burden it puts on a worker when their schedule changes unexpectedly, a pay differential for an unexpected schedule change or when a worker has to stay past the end of their shift.
Differential pay for evening, night, and weekend work.

Voice on the Job

Protect and honor the legal right of workers to organize to improve the standards in their work life.

Where NEU Members Work

5 Steps to Form a Union

Talk to Co-workers/Gather Information

What issues do you care most about? Any common themes? Do other co-workers share your interest in exploring forming a union? Contact us for help getting started.

Form an Organizing Committee of Representative Co-Workers

The Organizing Committee educates co-workers about the benefits of unionizing and your rights under the law, motivates others to take action with confidence, identifies common workplace concerns and helps plan how to build a strong union.

Build Majority Support

Once your Organizing Committee is in place and you have a good plan, you’re ready to take action and make your campaign public by talking to all of your co-workers to make sure everyone has an opportunity to be involved. Cards or petitions are signed to show support for having a union.

Make Your Union “Official”

Now you can ask your employer to voluntary recognize your union or you can request the National Labor Relations Board to hold a secret ballot election.

Win a Strong Contract

Once your union is official, you and your co-workers will negotiate a legally binding contract with your employer that puts in writing all terms of employment. When negotiations are over you vote to approve the contract.