Hundreds of staff members and attorneys at Brooklyn Defender Services may walk off the job on Thursday after their union authorized a potential strike.
What You Need To Know
Brooklyn Defenders Services staff and attorneys authorized a strike on Thursday if contract negotiations are still ongoing
About 500 staff members and attorneys could walk off the job
Issues under negotiation include pay, sick time and work from home policies
The public defenders represent thousands of low-income Brooklyn and Queens defendants in court who cannot afford their own attorneys.
“The idea of my clients standing in court without me is not something I ever want them to have,” Julia Koppelman, a senior staff attorney in criminal defense at Brooklyn Defender Services and strike captain, told NY1.
Attorneys, represented by the United Auto Workers Local 2325, authorized a strike to take place at 8 a.m. on Thursday if a deal on a new contract cannot be reached with the nonprofit legal provider.
“Making this work sustainable is so important,” said Koppelman, who’s handling 100 cases. “So many of us, I think all of us, come into this job passionate about putting our clients first.”
Brian Holbrook, a Brooklyn defender in the family court practice who is also a union official, said some of the sticking points were compensation, increasing sick days from seven days a year, and a detailed remote work policy.
“Unfortunately, they just weren’t seeing the progress in those bargaining sessions that they wanted to see,” Holbrook said.
In a statement, Lisa Schreibersdorf, executive director of Brooklyn Defender Services, said management has been in good-faith negotiations with the union since April on issues like pay, health insurance costs, time off, and hybrid work.
“We are continuing to bargain and hope to resolve the contract without a strike,” she said in the statement. “In keeping with our mission of providing outstanding legal representation, BDS supervisors are prepared to handle the cases of the people we represent and to be available to New Yorkers who rely on our critical services.”
There are about 500 employees who could strike. In addition to attorneys, the union represents paralegals and social workers.
Brooklyn Defenders is funded through the city and grants.
“Tens of thousands of people rely on their services each year,” said Cassio Mendoza, a spokesman for Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “That is why Mayor Mamdani increased total funding for indigent defense to its highest level in New York City history. And that is why it is critical that an agreement is reached that values the essential work of public defenders while maintaining uninterrupted services for the New Yorkers they represent.”
Holbrook said attorneys are drafting memos for nonunion supervisors to either delay cases or represent clients in court.
“We are preparing with detailed coverage, with cross-examinations, with detailed preparations, so that our supervisors can step into our shoes and can do those court appearances with the client to make sure that their case continues on,” Holbrook said.
Al Baker, a spokesman for the New York State Office of Court Administration, said in a statement, “While we always hope that our courts and those they serve experience no disruptions, our entire judicial system remains committed to ensuring full operations should any arise. For now, of course, the courts remain fully open.”