Legal Aid Society Attorneys United, UAW Local 2325, Authorize a Strike for the First Time Since 1994 and Hold Practice Picket on June 30th as their Contract Expires

***PRESS ADVISORY***

With 91% of members authorizing a strike, Legal Aid Society Attorneys United (UAW 2325) picket with unionists and activists on the final day before their contract expires at 55 Water Street in Manhattan at 1pm.

(NEW YORK, NY) - Legal Aid Society Attorneys United (UAW Local 2325) have voted to authorize a strike for the first time since 1994. With 91% percent voting yes, members will hold a practice picket on June 30th at 1pm at 55 Water Street in Manhattan on the day their contract expires. This chapter of UAW 2325 represents the 1,100 attorneys who work at The Legal Aid Society and defend working class New Yorkers across the city in criminal, family, immigration, and housing courts. UAW 2325 has coordinated the bargaining campaigns of over 2,000 legal services workers in New York City whose contracts expire on June 30, 2025. Five other chapters at UAW 2325 are voting on strike authorizations this week.

With the city’s largest public defender office authorizing a strike alongside hundreds of their union siblings at other legal services organizations, these workers are sending a message to their employers and the City that the unionized legal services sector in New York City is united, and if necessary, will call for a potential strike in July that could shut down courts across New York City.

“The clock is ticking down to contract expiration. Management’s last economic offer to our members is wildly insufficient and for some members represents a pay cut over last year’s wages. This is unacceptable, especially when we are on the front lines in court protecting New Yorkers against the Trump administration. The Legal Aid Society when we are on the front lines in court protecting New Yorkers against the Trump administration. The Legal Aid Society needs to come to the table with more money, because we are prepared to strike to get the wages we need to stay in the jobs we love,” said Lisa Ohta, President of the Association of Legal Advocates and Attorneys (UAW Local 2325). “Mayor Adams and the City Council can solve this. The time to fully fund legal services is now. Our members are here to give our clients what they deserve, experienced advocates who relentlessly pursue justice on their behalf. Only by improving our working conditions can we fulfill that promise and obligation to the city we love. ”

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Press Contacts:

Jane Fox

C: 943.243.7589

E: jfox@alaa.org

Gregory Herrera

C: 917.623.7059

E: gherreralas@gmail.com