IRC Workers Unite Utah members, many of whom are pictured above, asked their employer for voluntary recognition on March 19. They are the 11th IRC office in the US to organize with OPEIU’s national IRC Workers Unite movement.
Salt Lake City, UTAH — With an overwhelming majority of more than 75%, workers at the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) Utah office are forming a union with the Office and Professionals Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 11.
IRC Workers Unite Utah went public with their union on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, soliciting voluntary recognition from their local leadership. Workers cite compensation, structural changes and demanding working conditions as reasons for taking this step to organize.
“We are eager to finally have a seat at the table,” said Jaycee Miller, a program coordinator who has been with the organization for three years. “The refugee services and nonprofit landscapes are changing, and it’s important to us that the decisions made as a result of these changes include the voices of those who are in client-facing roles.”
In doing so, they join 10 other IRC offices nationwide who have done the same. The collective movement, IRC Workers Unite, began in 2023 and has quickly gained momentum in offices in California, Colorado, Texas, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Georgia. Abroad, the IRC’s London office has also unionized in recent years.
“Unionizing is a major step to make the work we do at the IRC more sustainable for our staff members. When we take care of our staff, our staff can take care of our clients, and in our current landscape, this is more important than ever,” said Katy Ducos, an immigration legal representative who has been with the IRC since 2020. “Staff in our office have been working with local leadership on wages and working conditions for years, and we are looking forward to continuing our collaboration as we move into this exciting new chapter for the IRC in Utah!”
IRC Workers Unite Utah (OPEIU Local 11) has given their leadership until 5 p.m. on Friday March 21 to respond to their request for voluntary recognition.
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About OPEIU Local 11
OPEIU Local 11 represents nearly 1,800 employees across five states: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Montana. OPEIU Local 11 ’s members work in many settings, including local governments, offices, mental health care facilities, nonprofits, and utilities providers. Through OPEIU Local 11, employees have a voice on the job and an avenue to equality, fair treatment and economic security. Learn more online at OPEIU11.org.
Non-profit workers are some of the hardest-working, lowest-paid and most essential members of our community, which is why we’re proud to represent workers at nonprofits such as Columbia River Mental Health, Columbia Wellness, National Network of Abortion Funds, and now, IRC Salt Lake City.
About IRC Workers Unite
We are IRC Workers Unite – refugee and resettlement workers from across the nationwide offices of the International Rescue Committee in the United States. Collectively, we believe in democratizing our workplace to better serve our clients, our community, and one another. Having a seat at the table allows those of us doing direct service work to help shape the future of IRC so that it is a sustainable workplace where all are treated with the same dignity and respect we advocate for daily for our clients. Learn more at IRCWorkersUnite.org.