WASHINGTON, DC, March 26, 2025 — The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) management has voluntarily and enthusiastically recognized CIEL Unite, the CIEL staff union which represents workers across the United States and Switzerland. The recognition comes after a supermajority of CIEL workers announced their intent to unionize in partnership with the Washington Baltimore News Guild (WBNG) in February.
With this recognition, CIEL and CIEL Unite will now begin the collective bargaining process to develop a contract. The union aims to advocate for staff interests, strengthen solidarity within the organization, and advance CIEL’s broader mission to protect the environment, promote human rights, and ensure a just and sustainable society.
“For over 35 years, CIEL has been at the forefront of advocating to ensure that human rights are at the cornerstone of environmental law,” says the CIEL Unite organizing committee. “CIEL’s staff are immensely proud of our work to defend our right to a healthy planet. We know our strength comes from a diverse, dynamic, international staff that believe in building long-term power, advancing justice, and ensuring representation for affected communities. Our union is grounded in these same principles. We look forward to working with CIEL leadership at the bargaining table and to finding creative solutions to advance core values of equity and justice, compassion, empathy, and respect.”
“The Center for International Environmental Law believes in and advocates for the rights of workers and the power of unions. Directed by those principles in action, CIEL management immediately and enthusiastically indicated its support for CIEL Unite, and we are proud to reach voluntary recognition so quickly,” says Rebecca Brown, CIEL President and CEO. “CIEL’s heart is its staff, and management is proud to have such a committed, dedicated, and principled workforce. We look forward to a constructive bargaining process that supports staff, strengthens labor relations, and advances CIEL’s critical work at the intersection of human rights and the environment.”
The CIEL Unite union includes attorneys, campaigners, communications specialists, and administrative and development staff based in the United States and Switzerland. The card count was verified by Paul Kelly at the Labor Guild. Follow CIEL Unite on Instagram and BlueSky for continued updates on the recognition of their union.
Media Contact
Maria Frausto, Communications Director, mfrausto@ciel.org.
Cate Bonacini, CIEL Unite representative, [email protected].