Bronx Defenders union approves possible strike – Bronx Times

The union representing Bronx Defenders attorneys and staff announced It has approved a possible strike starting the week of July 22 if the collective agreement’s demands for higher wages and other benefits to avoid staff cuts are not accepted.

With a 93% turnout, 93% of union members voted on June 27 to authorize the bargaining committee to call a strike if necessary. The unfair labor practice strike, if called, would impact services to clients in all of the district’s courts – housing, civil and criminal – as well as in federal immigration court.

Approximately 20,000 Bronx residents are served annually by the nonprofit Bronx Defenders, which provides legal representation and other holistic services. The Bronx Defenders Union-UAW Local 2325 represents approximately 260 members in all roles within the organization, including attorneys, paralegals, social workers, and other non-attorney staff.

Bronx Defenders lawyers are the lowest-paid public defenders in New York City, says Samantha Espada, a staff criminal defense attorney who grew up in the Bronx and Westchester and currently lives in the borough. Espada is a member of the union’s bargaining committee.

Union members are “actively trying to reach an agreement” to avoid a strike, Espada told the Bronx Times. But they accuse management of negotiating in bad faith, adding that all of management did not attend bargaining meetings until a strike date had already been announced.

After six months of negotiations, “management has not held up its end of the bargain,” Alexandria Jackman, an immigration attorney with the Bronx Defenders, said in an interview with the Bronx Times.

The union’s main concern is better pay. Jackman said that while public defenders generally feel a greater sense of purpose beyond the money, high turnover is a natural consequence when a lawyer can do “literally the exact same work” elsewhere for a higher salary.

The fluctuation has become “overwhelming,” said Espada, which means that the staff is “constantly overworked” despite the high caseload.

The union did not provide a dollar amount or percentage pay increase, but Jackman and Espada said some pay increase is necessary to attract and retain staff. According to Espada, the union she is a delegate for has lost about 60% of its bargaining unit since the last contract signing in 2022 alone.

Hybrid work has become another sticking point related to salary. Jackman said the management team wants all employees to work in the office every day, but has not agreed to raises to cover childcare, transportation and other logistical needs.

Jackman said she was also upset by management’s proposal to cut funding for continuing professional development. In the “dynamic legal world” of her specialty, immigration law, ongoing education is a necessity, she said.

The union is also demanding a one-year contract that would bring the renewal timing in line with similar organizations, creating greater bargaining power.

The Bronx Times reached out to the Bronx Defenders and did not receive a detailed response, but “the Bronx Defenders are committed to achieving a fair contract for all, and we look forward to an amicable resolution of these negotiations,” said Wesley Caines, interim executive director of the Bronx Defenders, said in a statement.

“I didn’t get an honest answer”

The Bronx Defenders Union is relatively new and has only had one contract negotiation in 2022. Jackman and Espada were not yet employed by the Bronx Defenders at the time, but although recent talks were said to have been difficult, a strike was “far from” possible, according to Jackman.

This time, management is not only refusing to meet the new demands, but is also demanding, according to Espada, “retractions” from the previous contract.

Espada and Jackman said management cited financial difficulties as a reason for rejecting the union’s demands, but did not provide documentation to prove a deficit.

The tariff committee has “repeatedly asked for the books to be presented to us,” but has so far only seen “partial information,” Espada said.

Without clear evidence of financial constraints – or some other explanation – it is unclear to union members why management has not met their contract demands, Espada said.

“It’s hard to see the bigger picture because we haven’t received an honest answer,” she said.

Negotiations have been going on for six months and are “extremely difficult,” according to Espada, who said she has always wanted to be a public defender and serve her home district. Although she said her commitment to the profession and her clients remains strong, the negotiation process has taken its toll.

Jackman said if working conditions do not improve soon, “I will have to look for other work opportunities,” but added, “I really hope it does not come to that.”

Despite the difficult contract negotiations, Jackman said she plans to stay with the Bronx Defenders. She said the organization has a “really great community in the office, and I love the community we serve.”

Espada said the committee will continue talks with company management until July 22 in the hope of reaching an agreement.

“We want to avoid a strike at all costs,” she said.

Reach Emily Swanson at [email protected] or (646) 717-0015. For more coverage, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @bronxtimes