DUP Workers Union Mission Statement

“And yet, both morale and working conditions at the press have been a problem for years now.”

And yet, both morale and working conditions at the press have been a problem for years now. Constant turnover, extended vacancies, disruptive reorganizations, lack of professional growth opportunities, patterns of discrimination, inconsistent enforcement of policies, and compensation that is not commensurate with our quality of work and years of experience as professionals (or the cost of living in Durham and around the Triangle) have all contributed in various ways to make working at DUP harder than it should be. Departments should be fully staffed so tasks can be completed within a regular work week. Worker contributions should be recognized by management and appropriately considered during the performance evaluation process and as a factor in shaping career growth and development. Policies should recognize us as whole people striving to lead full, healthy lives and should be clearly enumerated and applied equitably across the press regardless of who you are, who your supervisors are, or what they think of you. 

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ensuing financial crisis, and increasing austerity, we as workers must guarantee that our health and safety are priorities for our organization and that our needs are met fairly. Moreover, we ought to have a voice in the changes to our working conditions brought on by the pandemic, such as the discontinuation of cost-of-living adjustments, merit raises, and retirement contributions; the provisioning of appropriate equipment for long-term working from home; and the potential reduction of our office space at Brightleaf Square. DUP’s ability to survive and thrive during the pandemic has been in no small part because of sustained efforts by us workers.

“We deserve a work community that values justice, equity, and dignity for all DUP staff and which adapts to the challenges of the contemporary moment.”

We deserve a work community that values justice, equity, and dignity for all DUP staff and which adapts to the challenges of the contemporary moment. We acknowledge that there have been some recent positive changes to working conditions. Some of these improvements have been granted unilaterally from management; however, improvements granted unilaterally by management can also be taken away unilaterally. Only through a union can we guarantee these changes are sustained.

We are grateful to the many workers at the press who have committed their time and energy through groups like the Equity and Inclusion Task Force and through day-to-day efforts to make the press a more inclusive and nurturing environment. We recognize, though, that structural changes are required to make our workplace a truly inclusive place for staff of color, LGBTQ-identified staff, staff with disabilities, and staff from poor and working-class backgrounds. What the Equity and Inclusion group has already been able to achieve provides a model for the power of staff members working together to effect change. However, some of the issues raised by these groups (higher pay, clearer paths for advancement, equitable enforcement of policies, etc.) are better addressed through the collective action of a union.