ST. PAUL, Minn. – In a strong show of unity, more than 70 workers at Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS) have voted to form a union through AFSCME Council 5. The new unit includes staff attorneys, support staff, accountants, development professionals, and others dedicated to serving low-income Minnesotans.
The decision follows months of worker-led organizing. SMRLS employees came together to push for fairness, transparency, and a meaningful voice in decisions that impact both their work and their clients.
"From the beginning of our campaign, we have been driven by the belief that forming a union at SMRLS will allow us to better represent our clients, advocate for ourselves, and robustly pursue the mission-driven work we care deeply about," said Peter Murray, a staff attorney with the Agricultural Worker Project. "I am so proud of my colleagues for taking this major step forward."
Council 5 Executive Director Bart Andersen called it a “moment of immense pride” for SMRLS workers and the union.
“These are the workers who hold the line for justice in our communities. They give voice to the voiceless, defend those facing eviction, fight for survivors of abuse, and help people build safer, more stable lives,” Andersen said. “Their decision to unionize sends a clear message: those who fight for justice deserve justice at work, too.”
SMRLS serves 33 counties across Minnesota, providing legal help in areas like housing, family safety, elder law, and immigrant rights. Now, its workers join a growing movement of nonprofit and legal aid professionals forming unions to protect the values they stand for every day.
After voting for their union in late May, their next step is using their collective power at the bargaining table to negotiate a first contract that reflects their commitment to justice.