Common Cause Voluntarily Recognizes and Supports Staff Decision to Affiliate with Washington-Baltimore News Guild Local 32035 to form Common Cause United​

WASHINGTON, DC – Staff members of Common Cause Education Fund (“Common Cause”) announced on Friday that they have unionized with Washington-Baltimore News Guild, Local 32035. The announcement was met with the full support and welcome of the organization’s leadership team and board members.

“Common Cause fights for all people to have a voice in our democracy and as an employer,  we will continue to work to provide to our staff with the strongest possible benefits and support,” said Common Cause President Karen Hobert Flynn. “We welcome and voluntarily recognize our staff’s union, Common Cause United, and pledge to work together to continue to improve our workplace and ensure Common Cause leads by example as we build an inclusive democracy that works for everyone.”

Common Cause’s first president Jack Conway was a labor leader who believed that the employees of Common Cause should have strong benefits and protections. Our organization was built on the idea that we’re all better off when people from all walks of life participate in self-governance. We know that the same goals that drive our work apply to both state capitols and workplaces – and we appreciate that this is one more crucial way that we are weaving equity into the fabric of our organization. Founded in 1970, Common Cause is a network of pro-democracy leaders working at the national, state, and local level across the country to win pragmatic, common sense solutions that ensure every vote counts, that every eligible voter has an equal say, that our elections represent the will of the people, and that our government is of, by, and for the people.

“Staff at Common Cause work tirelessly to make our government more open, honest, and transparent. Each and every one of us deserves the same of our workplace. We are looking forward to a good-faith negotiation process between Common Cause leadership and the Common Cause United Bargaining Unit,” said Common Cause United staff.

The Washington-Baltimore News Guild is the union for more than 2,500 news, information, nonprofit, and labor organization workers. Together, we hold our employers accountable and ensure that our workplaces reflect our values, which include ensuring everyone is free from harassment and retaliation, earns equal pay for equal work, and has a voice in their workplace.