The Public Interest Network Employees Win Card Check, Move into Bargaining

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The Public Interest Network (TPIN) employees won voluntary recognition for their union, The Public Interest Union (TPIU), via a card check held on March 11, 2022! This union includes staff for TPIN-affiliated groups, including the Fund for Public Interest, Green Corps and national and state staff for Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) and Environment America. This follows a landmark agreement reached between the two parties last month.

Overwhelming public support for TPIU helped to convince TPIN management to voluntarily recognize the union. So far, the union has received support from:

• An overwhelming majority (more than 80%) of eligible staff submitting authorization cards
• More than 50% of eligible staff signing onto a public letter in support of the union to CEO Doug Phelps
• 14 U.S. Senators
• 46 Members of the House
• 596 former TPIN workers or “alumni”
• 73 PIRG chapter student leaders
  
  

Rishi Shah, a Maryland PIRG Advocate with The Public Interest Network, issued the following statement on behalf of The Public Interest Union: “A union at The Public Interest Network is a win not just for staff, but for the public interest. More support and empowerment for our organizers and workers will better achieve our goals of protecting consumers and preserving the environment. This is an exciting first step toward a stronger organization.”