The Forum at Columbia University. Image courtesy of Dattner Architects
Workers at New York City-based Dattner Architects are seeking to form a union. In a statement carried by Architecture Workers United, the “majority of designers, architects, and operations staff” at the firm are making the move “because of the pride and commitment we all feel towards our firm and our profession.”
According to Jacobin, the workers are organizing with the International Association of Machinists and seeking a card-check neutrality agreement. The outlet further reports that over 100 workers are involved in the move, who claim they have support from a supermajority of workers in the firm following years of campaigning. If the move is successful, Dattner would be the largest unionized firm in the United States.
“As members of Dattner Architects, we recognize and believe in the vision and the intent of our firm to create equitable communities, and we believe our firm can become a model for the future direction of architecture,” the statement reads. “Unionizing will provide us with a framework to negotiate alongside leadership, shape decisions that affect us, and strengthen the culture we value.”
The workers are calling on leadership at the firm to agree to the process of recognizing the union, meaning the move would not need a National Labor Relations Board election. The workers sent Dattner’s partners a letter on September 23rd requesting an agreement. Jacobin reports that six days later, the partners circulated a response calling the IAM’s approach “secretive” and saying that union representation should be decided through an election, and that unionization could cost the firm clients.
Workers from Dattner are expected to gather at City Hall tomorrow, October 21st, for a meeting with Deputy Mayor Julie Su to discuss the organizing effort.
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