The Bronx Defenders Reaches Tentative Deal with Organization’s ALAA-UAW Local 2325 Union Chapter

Bronx, NY – On Sunday, July 20, The Bronx Defenders and members of ALAA-UAW Local 2325 within the organization reached a tentative contracting deal on wages and benefits. As of Monday, July 21, union members at The Bronx Defenders will return to work. A formal vote by union members is pending. Juval O. Scott, Executive Director of The Bronx Defenders, issued the following statement:

“I am proud to share that as of Sunday evening, The Bronx Defenders has reached a tentative agreement with the organization’s members of ALAA-UAW Local 2325. The union has informed us that in response to our latest offer, the strike has been called off, pending a formal vote by all union members. Striking staff are returning to work as of today.

“As I stated last Friday, the people of the Bronx deserve high-quality legal representation by staff who are paid what they are worth. From the moment I joined The Bronx Defenders nine months ago, I pledged open communication with the union, meeting with them monthly to hear their concerns, in the interest of building mutual trust and understanding. Yesterday’s tentative agreement is the fruit of that labor, and I am looking forward to working closely with the union to ensure that this year’s agreement is the foundation of future success.

“The Bronx Defenders’ mission is to provide the highest quality legal representation to people living in one of the most policed, surveilled, and under-invested counties anywhere in the country. As public defenders, this work is more than a profession – it is a calling. And valuing the work of those who serve that calling is imperative if we are to continue to meet our obligation to zealously represent the people and families of the Bronx. But we must never abandon the people we serve, and it is in this spirit that both sides reached resolution.

“While the future remains daunting – with the unprecedented pressures of this moment on both fairness and funding – we should never forget that the surest path forward is together.”

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