Twin Cities Habitat workers vote to unionize with AFSCME

Workers at Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity have voted to form a union, becoming the newest group of nonprofit employees to organize with Council 5 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

The new bargaining unit brings together about 100 workers from Twin Cities Habitat and its lending subsidiary, TCHFH Lending, Inc. Members work in construction, real estate, the Habitat ReStore, resource development and other programs and services.

The National Labor Relations Board tallied results of the mail-in election March 17. The union prevailed 43-31, with eight void ballots and one challenged ballot.

The St. Paul-based employer and Council 5 released a joint statement from their leaders – Council 5 Executive Director Bart Andersen, Twin Cities Habitat CEO Chris Coleman and TCHFH Lending President Robyn Bipes-Timm – pledging to move forward together.

“Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity and AFSCME Council 5 believe every eligible employee deserves the opportunity to make their choice freely and privately, and Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity shared with staff that their decision would be supported no matter the outcome,” the statement reads.

“Our entities are fully invested in our team members. We are appreciative of the respectful approach and investment shown throughout this process from eligible employees, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, TCHFH Lending, Inc., and AFSCME Council 5, and we thank the NLRB for facilitating the vote.”

Twin Cities Habitat workers formally requested recognition of their union from management in late January.

The union launched an Instagram account around the same time.

The Twin Cities Habitat campaign is the latest in a string of successful nonprofit organizing drives supported by Council 5 in recent years, from legal-aid and health-outreach services across the region to cultural hubs like the Minnesota Historical Society, the Walker Art Center and the Science Museum of Minnesota.

Andersen, Council 5’s executive director, said unions across the country are seeing an “explosion” of interest from workers – and organizing to meet that demand.

“These workers are fighting to ensure they have a voice on the job and can collectively bargain for higher wages, better benefits, safety on the job and dignity and respect for the work they do to uplift our communities,” Andersen said. “Labor unions not only have a duty and responsibility to build our unions internally, but to also ensure we provide a space and support for unorganized workers to come to and help form a union in their workplace.”