New York, NY – On June 3rd – the first Monday of Pride Month – workers at SAGE, a nonprofit that provides advocacy and services to LGBTQ+ older adults, delivered a letter to executive leadership signed by more than 75% of SAGE staff announcing their wall-to-wall union and requesting voluntary recognition.
This newly-formed union, known as the SAGE Workers Union, is affiliated with the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153.
The workers at SAGE provide critical services for LGBTQ+ older adults at their NYC-based centers and beyond, including case management, meals, classes, veteran support services, and more. SAGE also does advocacy work, mobilizing communities to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ elders. Without a union, however, many of the workers that deliver these crucial services report that they do not make a living wage, nor do they receive adequate organizational support.
“We are unionizing at SAGE so we can strengthen our voices for real change,” says Maddy Alvarez, a care manager. “We work in public service because we care about the LGBTQ+ elders we serve, but also because we deeply care about each other. We are the backbone of the organization, and our union will make sure that management is held accountable, acts fairly, and treats us The Workers with the dignified respect and rights we deserve. I stand in solidarity with my colleagues.”
The SAGE Workers Union cites unsustainable workloads, lack of pay equity and transparency, costly health insurance, and high turnover as major issues that affect their livelihoods. By unionizing – the workers of SAGE, who are overwhelmingly members of the LGBTQ+ community themselves, are demanding a say in the workplace policies that affect them and their ability to provide for themselves and their families.
“SAGE staff are like many other nonprofit employees dedicated to serving the LGBTQIA+ community who have recently embraced unionization, including the New York City Anti-Violence Project and the Trevor Project,” the letter from the union to SAGE management reads. “In light of the burdens faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and the historical underpayment of nonprofit workers, uniting and advocating for our rights is more crucial than ever. The LGBTQIA+ community faces increasing political threats, emphasizing the need for collective action and solidarity to protect our community, our vital work, and our daily existence.”
Included in the SAGE Workers Union’s key demands are better pay transparency and equity, higher wages, affordable health insurance inclusive of gender-affirming care coverage, just cause protections, better organizational support, pathways for professional development/career growth opportunities, and a collective voice and input when it comes to organizational decision making.
“I am proud to be part of a long history of queer organizers and union activists,” says Liz Kinports, a care manager at SAGE. “Queer solidarity and worker solidarity are inseparable. Many of our SAGE participants themselves have been union workers and organizers and there is a rich history of LGBTQ+ action for labor rights.”
The union has asked SAGE management to respond to their request for voluntary recognition by end of day Friday, June 7th.
