JOIN IFPTE: the Union for Nonprofit Employees

We bring nonprofit employees together to help strengthen their workplaces. Our nonprofit members are employed at nonprofit organizations across the U.S. and Canada. With their collective voice, they have established standards for fair and equal treatment of nonprofit professionals and improved their pay, benefits, and working conditions. Our members are raising standards for the whole nonprofit industry.

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“The union has your back as a worker and is without a doubt one of your friends in high-stress meetings. Unions are the friend you have in your back pocket who want you to succeed.”

— nonprofit employee and IFPTE member Rami Jackson

How our members have improved their nonprofit organizations:

Strengthening their workplaces

Nonprofit organizations succeed when employees have a say in workplace decisions. Our members have used their seat at the table to establish protocols to increase diversity and inclusion, narrow the gender wage gap, and make their workplaces more fair and equitable. Improvements like these boost morale and make nonprofit organizations more productive. Our members continue to make a positive impact through their work, while having a welcoming environment and the necessary resources for success.

Ensuring fair pay and benefits

Our members know the importance of earning a livable wage, especially since many of them live in increasingly expensive cities like Washington, D.C. and San Francisco. That’s why they’ve negotiated for annual raises, minimum salaries, and overtime pay. One first union contract raised salaries by almost 10 percent on average.

In addition to wage gains, our members have used their collective voice to improve their benefits. They have quality employer-provided health insurance and employer-sponsored retirement plans. They’ve also negotiated for generous paid time-off, including holidays, vacation time, and sick leave (some even have unlimited sick days). Additionally, many of our members have improved parental leave policies at their organizations, with most members receiving between six weeks and six months of paid time off for the adoption or birth of a dependent child.

Encouraging workplace collaboration

Our members recognize the importance of collaborating with their managers and colleagues, which is why they’ve established labor-management committees in their workplaces. These committees include representatives from both management and the union, and meet regularly to discuss issues of common concern. Labor-management committees foster communication between employees and managers, and provides a platform to address concerns.

Where our nonprofit members work

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Contact us about joining the union of nonprofit employees

As a union with members at nonprofit organizations, we understand nonprofit workplaces, including employees’ commitments to their organizations’ missions. By joining together with us, you can improve your workplace while continuing to do work that makes a difference in the world.

Fill out our contact form and IFPTE staff will reach out to you with more information about forming a union at your nonprofit.

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FAQ

What is a union?

A group of employees who come together to negotiate with their employer over their wages, benefits, and working conditions. The employees are the union—they democratically elect their coworkers who oversee their union’s affairs and conduct negotiations with their employer. Unlike associations, employees in unions have the legal right to negotiate collectively with their employers.

What is collective bargaining?

Collective bargaining is the formal process employees in unions and their employers use to negotiate the terms and conditions of work—including wages, benefits, and working conditions. Similar to the contracts CEOs have that guarantee their pay, benefits, and other conditions of employment, the terms agreed upon during collective bargaining are solidified in a contract called the collective bargaining agreement. Collective bargaining agreements are commonly referred to as union contracts.

How do most nonprofit employers react to their staff unionizing?

At first, some nonprofit employers are less than enthusiastic about their staff forming a union, but many come to understand and appreciate the benefits of a democratic workplace where employees have a voice. We know that nonprofit organizations are stronger with a union and many managers agree.