ST. LOUIS — The Sierra Club's workers' union authorized its first ever strike Wednesday night, and St. Louis workers are expected to participate.
The Progressive Workers Union (PWU) announced the strike authorization on Thursday, saying it could begin as early as Tuesday. The union attributed several reasons fueling their decision to strike, including reported union-busting and layoffs.
PWU previously filed Unfair Labor Practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing Sierra Club of the retaliatory firings of union leaders. The union also called on Sierra Club to reduce layoffs and respect union workers' right to grieve.
"Sierra Club is using the same corporate tactics against its own union that the organization decries when fighting polluting utilities, oil, and gas companies,” PWU President CJ Garcia-Linz said. “The strike is the culmination of Sierra Club’s anti-union actions that led to the filing of unfair labor practices and its attempt to gut major union safeguards as we negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement. PWU wants to avoid a strike, and we have welcomed Sierra Club to meet with union leaders if they are willing to seriously respond to the strike platform.”
Ed Smith, PWU National unit contract negotiator and Sierra Club Missouri Chapter Senior Press Secretary, said Missouri workers will also be participating in the strike.
"The door is open for Sierra Club to avoid a strike if it wants to seriously negotiate," Smith said.
Sierra Club Deputy Chief of Communications Jonathon Berman sent the following comments in response to the authorized strike:
"Last evening, we were made aware that the Progressive Workers Union National has voted to strike. This is their right and our belief remains that mediation and constructive bargaining to resolve differences is the better course for the overall health of the Sierra Club.
We look forward to meeting with PWU National at the mediation table on July 1st and 3rd.
We will continue to meet and engage with PWU National until we reach an agreement on a new CBA. We firmly believe that, among many others, the increased benefits, stronger support policies and care, and work flexibility offered in our last proposal will ultimately be included in a final CBA. We want to make continuous improvements to ensure everyone has protected top tier benefits and are well-supported in carrying out the Sierra Club’s critical mission.
Our goal at the bargaining table has always been to build a supportive and equitable work environment within our financial reality. A strike does not change our fiscal reality. Our fiscal reality only changes by continuing to win big victories and insisting on the financial discipline necessary to ensure we fully stabilize the Sierra Club.
Mediation remains the best pathway forward. It will help us resolve outstanding issues that prevent us from reaching agreement on a CBA. An independent and fair mediator will help both sides navigate any remaining areas of disagreement.
As we prepare for mediation, we will continue working with various stakeholders to stabilize the organization and ensure that, if and when a strike begins, our critical work will continue and we minimize the potential effect this has on our ability to fundraise."
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