What is a union?

A union is an organization of workers ("employees") at a workplace. A union aims to allow workers to bargain for changes at work democratically with management (the "boss").

How do I join the ABA Workers Union?

Click the "join" button on the top right, or click here, and an email will be sent to you within 24 hours. There are no membership fees or dues, and no plan to collect them.

We're currently using Signal and Discord as community organizing platforms - both are free and allow us to protect ourselves by using pseudonyms and not sharing our phone numbers directly with others.

Please use basic safety hygiene on Signal or Discord. Use a pseudonym and ensure your privacy settings are set to hide your personal information. The reason we use Signal is that it provides us all with a layer of protection against malicious actors, as long as we use it correctly.

What changes have other workers won at their workplaces?

Teachers, Nurses, and other workers have won huge gains from employers by unionizing, and light the way for ABA Workers who may be unfamiliar with what is possible. You may have seen nurses and teachers on strike in your city or on the news. Strikes are uncomfortable, difficult, and often necessary when the employer won't make changes workers need to survive and thrive.

Workers at hospitals, schools, dockyards, coffee shops, grocery stores, and major logistics and tech companies (like Amazon) have gone on strike to realize change at their work, including:

• Fair Pay: Wage increases beyond just cost-of-living - as high as 20% more for many workers

• Time Off: Meaningful Vacation time - 2 weeks of paid sick time, personal days, and paid time off with flex days in the event an employee is required to work on a holiday.

• Health Care: Health coverage with zero deductibles, zero coinsurance, and zero copay - the type of "health insurance" they have in other countries with nationalized healthcare systems!

• Protection: when management has a problem with a union member, the union rep. will be present to ensure the worker's rights are protected and to prevent discrimination, harassment, and unfair labor practices.

Take a look at some of the contracts other unions have won - and remember, these are legally binding, enforceable documents. These workers have won their union, and fought for a contract that works for them.

This is what's possible, and this is why a union is worth fighting for:

Is the ABA Workers Union (AWU) a union?

Yes, and no. We're a solidarity union - an organization led by ABA workers for ABA workers. You can directly join; no dues, just action.

We're the workers who make this therapy possible and life-changing. If we can change lives, we can change our industry, too. This is a dream job for many - but a nightmare in practice. We work long hours, in dangerous conditions, with limited to no support. We're going to change that.

We support workers organizing unions by coordinating participation in existing training programs to help bring the labor movement to ABA. We support each other in developing the social and practical skills necessary to organize at your workplace.

As a direct-join union, we eliminate the barriers and risk of retaliation employers will present by creating a discrete network of organizers. Our union is worker-led, meaning you and your coworkers are charged with determining what and how to change conditions at your workplace through democratic practices (e.g., the organizing committee model).

If workers choose, and feel ready, we encourage and actively support members to certify a majority, NLRB union.

The NLRB (National Labor Relations Board) requires that workers hold an election at their job site to join a union. At your specific location within your company, a tremendous amount of work and camaraderie is necessary before a union election can be held. The AWU exists to support you, if you choose to go that route; alternatively, you can join to support and be supported by other ABA workers in the field as we work to advance the interests of those who work this job.

This website, our social media pages, and our Discord & Signal Groups are a platform for organizing with others in the industry.

The AWU is a space where you can safely connect with like-minded colleagues at your workplace. With your support, we can teach one another how to organize, fight for, and win real change at our job sites.

Who can be in a union?

The workers! In ABA, that typically means paraprofessionals, techs, RBTs, BCaBAs, BCBAs, and BCBA-Ds - anyone who isn't part of management.

Employers (management) cannot form a union since they already have the authority to decide who works where, with what, and how much someone gets paid. They can hire, fire, and act with autonomy when it comes to creating or enforcing company policy.

Many BCBAs have "supervisor" in their title, and can still join a union. If you are an ABA worker without the ability to hire or fire staff, you are eligible for union membership.

1099 contractors are a notable exception - but are still encouraged to join the AWU. Many industries employ 1099 contractors as a way to circumvent providing meaningful benefits while still having a steady, full or part-time workforce. If you are a 1099 contractor and want to fight for recognition for the work you provide, join us and the thousands of other works who are organizing to change the laws that prevent you from winning your union.

What does a Union Do?

A union is an organization of workers who seek to improve their workplace. Unions are a democracy, and as a consequence, rely on membership to drive change through voting.

Rank-and-file members of a union advocate for changes by engaging workers and building power at their workplace and across the industry as a whole. We utilize transparent, democratic processes to make this happen.

With enough worker support, you can bargain with your employer at the local level for immediate changes. With enough support across the industry, we can impact systems-level change. The ABA industry has embraced the for-profit model; The ABA Workers Union insists this needs to change. People over profits, every single day.