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American Humanist Association Formally Recognizes Staff Union

WASHINGTON – The American Humanist Association (AHA) leadership has voluntarily and unanimously recognized the AHA staff union, which represents workers across the organization and its advocacy arm, the Center for Freethought Equality (CFE). The recognition comes after AHA staff announced their intent to unionize and join the Washington-Baltimore News Guild, Local 32035 of The NewsGuild-CWA.

With this recognition, AHA and its staff union will begin bargaining a first contract. The union aims to advocate for staff interests, strengthen solidarity within the organization, and advance AHA’s mission.

The recognition of the union reflects a long tradition of humanist engagement with labor. “We seek to follow in the footsteps of many humanist predecessors who made labor organizing a core part of their humanist work,” the AHA Organizing Committee (AHA OC) said in a statement. The AHA OC is “proud to take this step in the same spirit we bring to our advocacy: in solidarity, and out of a shared commitment to living our values.”

“From Eugene Debs to Emma Goldman to A. Philip Randolph, there’s a rich tradition of American humanist labor organizing – because humanists demand a shared life in a shared world, and workers’ rights are a prerequisite for human dignity,” said Fish Stark, Executive Director of the AHA. “We are pleased to voluntarily recognize the AHA Staff Union, and look forward to negotiating a fair contract.”

The AHA staff union includes team members from all AHA and CFE departments, and is represented by the Washington-Baltimore News Guild. AHA’s board voted unanimously to recognize the union on September 8, just a week after AHA leadership was notified on September 1. On September 10, Wilma B. Liebman, a neutral third party selected jointly by AHA and WBNG, verified that more than 50 percent of AHA staff had signed union authorization cards. Following recognition, WBNG withdrew the election petition it had filed with the National Labor Relations Board.

AHA Media Contact:

Court Beyer, Communications Director: [email protected]

Union Media Contact:

Bruce Jett, Organizing Director, Washington Baltimore News Guild: 703-627-4547

AHA Organizing Committee (AHA OC): [email protected]

The American Humanist Association

The American Humanist Association (AHA) works to protect the rights of Humanists, atheists, and other nontheistic Americans. The AHA advances the ethical and life-affirming worldview of Humanism, which—without beliefs in gods or other supernatural forces—encourages individuals to live informed and meaningful lives that aspire to the greater good of humanity.

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