The Neighborhood Defender Services of Harlem (NDS) recently challenged allegations made by its union, which represents over 100 staff members, regarding accusations of offering unlawful incentives to employees to disrupt an ongoing strike. The union filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board, claiming that managers offered improper inducements to encourage a return to work. A statement from deputy executive director Shannon M. Anglero clarified, “any suggestion that NDS offered employees improper financial incentives to return to work is false.” Furthermore, NDS implemented temporary operational measures to maintain legal services during the work stoppage.
Adding another layer to the dispute, the union alleged that management violated the existing collective bargaining agreement through an internal email sent on the eve of the strike. The email reportedly required sick leave requests to be supported by a physician’s certification, treating uncertified absences as strike participation. Anglero refuted this by emphasizing the need for “appropriate medical documentation” to differentiate between genuine sick leave and strike participation, ensuring consistency in administering leave policies.
This strike is part of a broader labor movement involving two unions affiliated with the United Automobile Workers, which represents over 3,500 legal service workers in New York City. The contracts for NDS and another organization, The Bronx Defenders, expired on June 30. The latter’s union also went on strike, exacerbating tensions within New York’s public defense sector.
The NDS leadership reiterated their commitment to negotiating a fair and sustainable agreement. Anglero emphasized their dedication to both their staff and clients, stating they remained “fully prepared to continue working toward a fair and sustainable agreement that supports our employees while ensuring we can continue serving our clients.” This ongoing dispute highlights the complexities of balancing employee rights with client needs in legal aid services.