National Braille Press Workers Join CWA

Earlier this month, workers at the National Braille Press (NBP) received confirmation from management that they would voluntarily recognize the workers’ union with the Industrial Division of CWA (IUE-CWA Local 81201).

Members are calling for a stronger voice on the job and improvements that they believe will help sustain both the workforce and NBP’s mission. NBP, in operation for over a century, is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that produces braille books, educational materials, and other resources to help expand access to information for blind and visually impaired people. Workers have formed a wall-to-wall union, including production workers, press operators, transcribers, proofreaders, sales and development staff, administrative workers, and others.

On August 31, workers, joined by IUE-CWA Local 81201 President Adam Kaszynski, Massachusetts State Senator Lydia Edwards, and Boston City Council At-Large Member Ruthzee Louijeune, marched together to NBP leadership to announce their organizing campaign and call on the organization to voluntarily recognize their union. A week later, on September 7, the NBP union participated in Boston's Labor Day parade, with two organizing committee members addressing the crowd.

Community members, union siblings, educators, librarians, publishing professionals, disability advocates, readers, and other supporters stood in solidarity with NBP workers by signing an open letter in support of their union.

The new IUE-CWA Local 81201 members at NBP are excited to have achieved recognition and remain focused on fighting to include every worker in their unit and to win a strong first union contract.

Congratulations to our newest IUE-CWA Local 81201 members!

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This post originally appeared on cwa-union.org.