Workers at Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) Announce Their Intent to Organize a Union
Baltimore – On Thursday, July 23, members of BARCS Workers United (BWU) successfully filed for recognition of their union. If recognized, the union will represent nearly 70 adoptions counselors, animal care attendants, cat foster coordinators, community cats program coordinators, pet support reps, surgery assistants, training and enrichment coordinators, vet techs, veterinarians, and others who are employees of the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS).
BWU workers presented their union recognition petition with a supermajority of support to BARCS CEO Jennifer Brause. The National Labor Relations Board will conduct a union election on Wednesday, September 2nd for eligible BARCS employees.
Workers first began organizing in spring of this year. The members of BARCS Workers United are committed to better pay for their lowest wage workers, adequate protections and safety protocols for all staff, respect in the workplace and from management, and departmental transparency. The newly formed bargaining unit will create a formal pathway for workers to better advocate for themselves and the communities they serve in support of the BARCS mission.
“At every level, we cannot have animal welfare without human welfare — and human welfare begins with a living wage,” said Kylie Woodall, member of BARCS Workers United and BARCS Training and Enrichment Coordinator.
“I support BARCS workers unionizing because all our staff deserve to feel safe, stable, and supported by management while working. We go above and beyond every single day to help each other and the animals in our care, and we deserve the same treatment in return,” said Kat Loss, member of BARCS Workers United and BARCS Veterinary Technician.
“A union is necessary to facilitate equity throughout staff. Staff are devoting an extraordinary amount of their mental, physical, and emotional energy to the care and well-being of animals with very little of the same devoted to us from our employer. The discrepancy is visible and shameful,” said Robin Baugus-Reische, member of BARCS Workers United and BARCS Volunteer Coordinator.
“Rabies vaccines have been a big issue for all of us. We need a union so we can fight for all shelter staff to be vaccinated and protected from rabies,” said Erika Kelly, member of BARCS Workers United and BARCS Community Cats Program Coordinator.
“We’re proud to work with the BARCS staff as they work to organize their union. The work these staff members do is vital to the Baltimore community and it’s critical that their working conditions are safe, sanitary, and secure. We are ready to get to work and bargain a strong union contract alongside our members so they can continue to provide essential services for our community,” said Patrick Moran, President of AFSCME Maryland Council 3.
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About AFSCME Maryland Council 3
AFSCME Maryland Council 3 represents over 55,000 public service workers in local, city, county and state government as well as in higher education and the private sector who provide the valuable public services that our communities rely on. From Western Maryland to the Eastern Shore, we make Maryland happen.