By MIKE LEE

Two years after gaining recognition as a bargaining unit and starting negotiations with management, 400 workers at Breaking Ground ratified their first contract on Aug. 17.

With sites in four boroughs, Breaking Ground is New York City’s largest nonprofit developer and operator of supportive housing. In addition to managing more than 4,400 housing units, the agency also provides support services and case management to help clients find permanent housing.

The Breaking Ground contract covers nearly 20 titles, including 311 Dispatchers, Case Managers, Engineers, Harm Reduction Specialists, Housekeepers, Housing Advocates, Housing Reporting Specialists, Housing Specialists, Maintenance Workers, Office Managers, Outreach Case Managers, Painters, Porters, Rent Administrators, and Residential Aides.

The workers began their union campaign during the summer of 2021, filing for recognition on Aug. 27. Breaking Ground management agreed to recognize the union in early October, making it the first non-profit to agree after the New York City Labor Peace Agreement was signed into law earlier that year, enabling workers of the City’s human services contractors to organize without fear of retaliation.

However, when it came time to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement in February 2022, management dug in and dragged out negotiations for more than two years.

“Management kept stalling. They weren’t available for the dates we wanted to meet over Zoom, so we always had to cater to their needs,” said Shawn Gray, DC 37 Organizer. “This made the process so long. I guess it was a tactic other agencies used over the years that perhaps worked, but not this time because nobody gave up.”

Instead, stalling tactics gave the Breaking Ground workers more confidence that they would eventually win. They organized internally, nearly doubling the size of the bargaining unit. The group protested for a fair contract on Oct. 19, 2023, at a fundraising event for the nonprofit. The union then brought in a mediator who accelerated negotiations to a final agreement.

“The focus of these negotiations for me was ensuring people were being treated fairly and stopping the mistreatment by management,” said Danielle Rutledge, CASAC-T Outreach Case Manager at Breaking Ground, who chaired the workers’ Negotiating Committee. “I learned that negotiations are the roadmap to the contract. You have to get the issues and then move forward to make it better for the employees who work for the organization.”

Workers received rate and retro increases of 3% on Oct. 28, with additional 3% pay increases in 2025 and 2026.

“I was proud to work with a group of people who truly volunteered their time, patience, and knowledge to conclude this contract,” said Moira Dolan, Senior Assistant Director of the DC 37 Research and Negotiations Department.

The new contract provides guaranteed wage increases, due process rights in disciplinary hearings, establishes a grievance procedure, creates a Health and Safety Committee, and guarantees time-and-a-half cash on holidays as a replacement for comp time of seven hours, which was previously only available for 30 days.

“All the kudos go to the members, and I’m happy they’re part of the DC 37 family,” Gray said. “Everybody involved did something bigger and more significant than themselves, putting themselves into the line of fire. All nonprofit workers can follow the blueprint of Breaking Ground to join the union.”

Rutledge said she is most looking forward to the outcomes of the Health and Safety Committee, a central demand from the workers.

“We are building our Health and Safety Committee, and looking for members who can participate to make it stronger for staff and clients alike,” she said. “We are definitely addressing safety concerns, including fire safety, drills, and slip and falls.”

The final contract was signed by the union and Breaking Ground on Oct. 18.

“I got involved because I wanted to speak for myself and let my voice be heard,” Rutledge said. “Now I want to become a shop steward and prepare for the next contract negotiations.”