Sierra Club employees are preparing to go on strike next week if a staff union doesn’t reach an agreement with the green group’s management.
The Progressive Workers Union, which represents Sierra Club staff, has voted to authorize a strike, the union announced Thursday. The strike will begin on July 2 “unless the two parties are able to resolve their differences,” the union said, pinning blame on the “tumultuous tenure of executive leadership under Ben Jealous.”
The threat of a strike marks the latest chapter in an ongoing fight in the green group pitting staff against Executive Director Ben Jealous. Since taking the helm of the group last year, Jealous has drawn ire from staff for overseeing two rounds of layoffs and he has openly feuded with the Progressive Workers Union.
Union members are urging the Sierra Club to avoid a strike through actions that include reaching agreement on key contract issues, addressing an unfair labor practice complaint and reducing layoffs.
