1199 Fights Back

by Haley Pessin

1199 & LAS Attorneys picket outside their office on September 12, 2023

Paralegals, social workers, and support staff at LAS, unionized with 1199 SEIU, recently delivered a petition to CEO Twyla Carter signed by over 75% of members demanding fair wages and a flexible telecommuting policy.

1199 members are the lowest paid workers at LAS, and make tens of thousands less than counterparts at other orgs. Despite these conditions, management has dragged out bargaining for 20 sessions over two years, and is now moving to unilaterally impose an unfair contract over the worker’s objections. This “contract” would remove step increases management previously agreed to, roll back telecommuting, and make a one-time $6500 bonus contingent on ratification—even while ALAA members got it no strings attached.

On Tuesday, July 30th, 12-2PM 1199 members are holding a city-wide picket reiterating their demands and holding a historic one-day strike-authorization vote.

Despite management’s divide-and-conquer tactics, ALAA and 1199 are building solidarity. Most recently, the LAS Attorneys chapter published a powerful statement pledging its “unequivocal support” for the 1199 workers. This continued solidarity will be key to winning, in the words of the statement, “justice for every worker.”