FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 27, 2024

New York, NY - The Vera Institute of Justice (Vera) recently agreed to voluntarily recognize the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (ALAA) UAW 2325 as the collective bargaining representative of its eligible staff nationwide, bypassing a formal election process.

“As an organization committed to transforming the criminal legal and immigration systems until they’re fair for all, we recognize and fully respect the right of employees to organize and form a union,” said Nick Turner, president and director of the Vera Institute of Justice.

“We look forward to working with Vera staff and the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (ALAA) UAW 2325 toward a collective bargaining agreement so we can continue to fulfill our mission to end the overcriminalization and mass incarceration of people of color, immigrants, and people experiencing poverty.”

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About Vera Institute of Justice
The Vera Institute of Justice is powered by hundreds of advocates, researchers, and policy experts working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they’re fair for all. Founded in 1961 to advocate for alternatives to money bail in New York City, Vera is now a national organization that partners with impacted communities and government leaders for change. We develop just, antiracist solutions so that money doesn’t determine freedom; fewer people are in jails, prisons, and immigration detention; and everyone is treated with dignity. Vera’s headquarters is in Brooklyn, New York, with offices in Washington, DC, New Orleans, and Los Angeles. For more information, visit vera.org.