This Summer, Workers at Bernheimer Architecture in New York City became the first Private Sector Architects in the U.S. to ratify a Union contract.  Je Siqueira is a Registered Architect with more than 15 years of experience in both public and private projects of varying scales.  She was one of the leaders in the Unionizing efforts at SHoP Architects and later at Bernheimer Architecture, where she’s currently a Project Architect and Shop Steward.  Siqueira explains their road to a first Collective Bargaining Agreement: “Management’s lack of respect for our concerns became fuel for our Union Campaign.  We started seeing improvements in the office immediately after recognition.  For one, we quickly formed a Labor-Management Committee and from the outset started addressing issues that either weren’t going to be bargained over or needed more immediate attention, such as instituting a Temporary Paid Family Leave Policy until the formal policy in our new contract went into effect, improving access to architectural examination study materials and improving office maintenance and upkeep, among others.  Now, with a contract in hand, I see my colleagues navigating the workplace with a sense of confidence that I hadn’t seen before.”

To Read This Organizing Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: Why My Coworkers and I Unionized Our Architecture Firm (jacobin.com)