It took a week, but we finally heard from FAS leadership that, yes, they received our emails informing them we are forming a union. Yesterday, they published a statement saying they plan to use “the coming days to explore this decision” 🧵
The Federation of American Scientists values evidence, equity, and inclusion in its work.
The evidence shows that workers in a union are better off and make a workplace better.
So today we told management that we have formed a union with
@MachinistsUnion
We’re asking for voluntary recognition in hopes to move forward with management to build a better FAS. We are honored to join a growing movement of nonprofit unions.
We love working at FAS.
That’s why we’re asking for our leadership to voluntarily recognize FAS United. This is an easy way to build trust and collaboration between staff and leaders.
We are packaging the words of solidarity you left for us, so that we can share with FAS leadership tomorrow, but this message has blown us away.
We are beyond honored to carry this legacy.
✊
We would like to leave you with a message left for us from our solidarity petition, one which we believe will resonate with those who might not yet know where they stand.
To
@scientistsorg
&
@CorreaDan
: a majority of employees have demonstrated their desire to unionize. Now is the time to get on board, or we’ll move forward w/o you. If you don’t, FAS will still be unionized, but you’ll show your community that FAS failed to stand by its values.
As a gesture of good-faith, we’re letting FAS take an additional seven days to make their decision despite bringing in the law firm Holland & Hart which openly states on their website that they have “decades of experience and proven results [with] union avoidance”
Last Wednesday, we asked
@scientistsorg
to voluntarily recognize our union. As of this morning, we have not received any response, and our leadership has not still not acknowledged these events to the rest of FAS.
🧵
We would like to leave you with a message left for us from our solidarity petition, one which we believe will resonate with those who might not yet know where they stand.
We would be deeply disappointed if FAS decides to pursue a strategy of union busting rather than allowing employees to exercise our legal right to organize without interference. Union “avoidance” runs directly counter to FAS’ stated values of transparency and inclusion.
We can talk to our co-workers about Project 2025's anti-worker agenda and demand a positive program: $25/hour min wage, real enforceable rights to unionize, health care for all, taxing the rich to fund schools and transit, and more,
@JennyBrownLN
writes:
FAS has (finally) put out a statement recognizing our efforts. But no voluntary recognition of our union yet.
We will have more information for our bargaining unit and allies in the coming days.
As always, thank you for your support.
Last Wednesday we clearly communicated our intent to file for an election at 5:01pm on 7/16 if we did not receive voluntary recognition. We’re confident that an election will result in a unionized FAS...
P.S. If you would like to voice your support for an FAS union (anonymously or otherwise), we are collecting testimonials through this Google Form.
We hope to share these responses by tomorrow morning (Tuesday).
By speaking as one voice, as FAS United, we believe staff will feel more empowered to voice their ideas in constructive ways, which will help us all build a stronger FAS together.
To FAS leadership: we encourage you to read this piece in the Harvard Business Review that we believe showcases compelling reasons for FAS to voluntarily recognize our union and start our partnership off on the right foot.
FAS has the chance to show leadership and commitment to its values at a time when businesses and nonprofits are increasingly choosing to voluntarily recognize employee unions.
We have received repeated messages from leadership that they want staff to tell them where they wish to see improvement. We hope that leadership understands that for many employees, it is difficult to overcome the inevitable workplace power imbalances to provide direct feedback.
We love FAS, we love all of our colleagues, and we love our mission. We are not asking for an overhaul of what makes FAS special. We are simply asking for an equal seat at the table regarding decisions that affect us and every other staff member.
Rather than engage with us, FAS leadership has continued to stay silent. We are pained to see this after repeated messages from leadership that they want staff to tell them where they wish to see improvement.