Southern Minnesota Legal Services Workers Vote to Form Union

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Demonstrating significant solidarity, over 70 employees at Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS) have opted to unionize under AFSCME Council 5. This newly formed unit comprises various roles including staff attorneys, support staff, accountants, and development professionals, all dedicated to assisting low-income residents of Minnesota.

This unionization effort is the culmination of several months of organization led by the workers themselves. Employees at SMRLS united to advocate for equity, transparency, and a significant voice in the decision-making processes affecting their work and the clients they serve.

"From the beginning of our campaign, we have been driven by the belief that forming a union at SMRLS will allow us to better represent our clients, advocate for ourselves, and robustly pursue the mission-driven work we care deeply about," expressed Peter Murray, a staff attorney with the Agricultural Worker Project. "I am so proud of my colleagues for taking this major step forward."

Bart Andersen, the Executive Director of Council 5, hailed this as a "moment of immense pride" for both the SMRLS employees and the union.

“These are the workers who hold the line for justice in our communities. They give voice to the voiceless, defend those facing eviction, fight for survivors of abuse, and help people build safer, more stable lives,” Andersen stated. “Their decision to unionize sends a clear message: those who fight for justice deserve justice at work, too.”

Covering 33 counties throughout Minnesota, SMRLS provides legal assistance in areas such as housing, family safety, elder law, and immigrant rights. By choosing to unionize, these workers join an expanding movement of nonprofit and legal aid professionals seeking to uphold the principles they champion daily.

Following their unionization vote in late May, the next phase for these workers involves leveraging their collective power at the bargaining table to negotiate an initial contract that aligns with their dedication to justice.