PRESS RELEASE: National Braille Press Workers Call for Union and Community Support

PRESS RELEASE

Workers organizing with IUE-CWA Local 201 say investing in the workforce will strengthen the organization and its mission to serve the blind community.

BOSTON — Workers at National Braille Press (NBP) have publicly announced their effort to form a union with IUE-CWA Local 201, calling for a stronger voice on the job and improvements that they believe will help sustain both the workforce and NBP’s mission.

On Monday, workers marched together to NBP leadership to announce their union effort and call on the organization to voluntarily recognize their union. The effort has already won support from an overwhelming majority of the workforce.

Founded in 1927 and located in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood, and also employing some remote workers in Massachusetts and across the country, National Braille Press produces braille books, educational materials, and other resources that help expand access to information for blind and visually impaired people. Workers have formed a wall-to-wall union of approximately 35 staff, including production workers, press operators, transcribers, proofreaders, sales and development staff, administrative workers, and others.

Workers say they are organizing to address sustainable compensation, workplace health and safety, staffing and training, professional development, flexible working conditions and scheduling, and the need for a collective voice in decisions that affect their workplace.

At the heart of their effort is a shared belief that investing in NBP’s workforce will strengthen the organization itself. By improving retention, reducing turnover, strengthening morale, and creating a more sustainable workplace, workers believe they can help ensure NBP continues fulfilling its mission to serve the blind community.

The workers are asking National Braille Press to voluntarily recognize their union and meet them at the bargaining table in good faith.

Community members, union members, educators, librarians, publishing professionals, disability advocates, readers, and other supporters are invited to stand with NBP workers by signing an open letter in support of their union.

SIGN THE OPEN LETTER.

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As the Industrial Division of CWA, IUE-CWA represents a force of 150,000 active and retired members united collectively to seek dignity on the job and a secure future for ourselves, our children, and all future generations.

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This post originally appeared on cwa-union.org.