ACLU of D.C., Staff Union Ratify Collective Bargaining Agreement

Organization’s First Union Contract Formalizes Its Existing Commitment to Workers’ Rights and Equity

May 15, 2026 2:20 pm

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WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union of the District of Columbia announced today that they have ratified the organization’s first collective bargaining agreement with its union, ACLU-DC Staff United.

“Finalizing this contract is the result of hard work by the leadership of ACLU-DC and our unionized staff,” said Monica Hopkins, executive director of the ACLU of D.C. “Our north star has always been the same: affirm the ACLU-DC’s commitment to workers’ rights and equity in the workplace. We are so glad that the rights and benefits which have long made ACLU-DC a great place to work are now formalized in our first, historic, collective bargaining agreement. As advocates for civil rights, equity and justice throughout the District, it is an act of integrity to stay committed to those values internally for our staff.”

Even prior to unionization, ACLU-DC’s employees enjoyed labor-friendly policies and received robust benefits, including:

  • Competitive, market-based wages and transparent pay structure to attract and retain the talent necessary to help fulfill the organization’s mission;
  • Generous benefits program, including full employer payment of health insurance premiums for employees and their families;
  • Robust time off and leave policies that allow employees to care for themselves and their families; and
  • Progressive discipline process and just cause job protections that ensure the due process rights of every employee.

Those policies and benefits will continue along with some new negotiated terms in the 4-year contract including:

  • Hybrid work policy that offers employees flexibility in work location based on their role and organizational need;
  • Litigator pay scale that recognizes the unique responsibilities of our legal department.

The ACLU of D.C. is the local affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, a nationwide nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization devoted to ensuring free speech, equal rights, and other civil liberties. With more than 14,000 members in the District, the ACLU of D.C. works to protect and expand civil liberties and civil rights for people who live in, work in, and visit D.C. and in matters involving federal employees and agencies.