Rose Brooks Union holds rally for better working conditions after filing multiple unfair labor charges against organization

Rose Brook Center Union rally. // Photo by Kaylynn Mullins

Since 1978, Rose Brooks Center (RBC) has provided Kansas City families and pets with resources to escape domestic violence. The non-profit offers safety shelters, a hotline, therapy, legal help, and job advocacy that help survivors recover and safely take their lives back. The employees work diligently to continue this care in the KC area, but the workers claim their attempts to have their union recognized have been unsuccessful thus far. 

The union’s efforts to be recognized began in December 2023 but were met with major setbacks from management. Instead of recognizing the union, they called for an anonymous union election. The election itself didn’t raise much concern for the union, but the actions of management leading up to the vote resulted in multiple unfair labor charges.

“They are dancing on the line, and in many cases, we believe have broken the law,” says Andrew Hutchinson, a union representative for Laborers Local 955. “What management decided to do was actively have meetings, spread lies, and try to pit workers against each other, and even imply that workloads could increase and layoffs could happen if individuals voted to form a union at their workplace.”

On May 20, the charges were filed, and Rose Brooks employees and community supporters held a rally at The Borough KC the same night as the charges were filed. Organizers wanted to raise awareness of the issues they face in their workplace before the union election on May 23. The RBC Union highlights worker demands on their website, which include a livable wage, maternity leave, and more flexible hours. 

Rose Brooks Center Union rally. // Photo by Kaylynn Mullins

Former Missouri Representative Judy Morgan spoke on the importance of unions in her life and offered her support to the Rose Brooks organizers. “They’re not just about bargaining. They’re about emotional things,” Morgan says.

Survivor testimonies were also heard, highlighting the many ways Rose Brooks helped them out of dangerous situations, including vouchers for children’s glasses, helping with car troubles, and offering a safe space for families to heal.

Employees claim that due to the intense workload, non-sustainable wages, no maternity leave, and little to no recovery time after emotionally tolling work, the organization has an extremely high turnover rate.

“I have only been here for eight months. Everyone on my team has turned over, including my supervisor,” says Madeline Hatler, a non-residential advocate for Rose Brooks. “I think the turnover rate is so high because people don’t have the capacity to meet their physical and mental needs. If you’re coming in and you’re experiencing vicarious trauma day after day, and then having to go work at a second job just to make ends meet, you’re not showing up and being as present for the survivors as you need to be.”

Rose Brooks Center Union rally. // Photo by Kaylynn Mullins

Multiple speakers at the event claim many Rose Brooks employees work a second job outside their 40-hour work week, due to the lack of a livable wage. Workers also don’t have maternity leave, which results in using all paid time off, sick days, and even losing their insurance coverage, according to Briana Green, a Housing and Economic Adviser at Rose Brooks. “Everybody at Rose Brooks, not just clients but staff as well,  deserve to feel safe, supported, and cared for by their co-workers, by their management, and by the community,” Green says.

Crisis response and non-profit workers know the positions aren’t financially lucrative, yet all the employees express love for their jobs and the positive impact they have on the community.

“No one in this bargaining union is here because they don’t want to work. No one’s organizing the union here because they hate Rose Brooks. Everyone here is working to make Rose Brooks better,” Hutchinson says.

The Rose Brooks Union hopes to continue serving Kansas City while ensuring that they can pursue fulfilling, healthy lives. “Rose Brooks is a pillar of our community,” Hatler says. “There is not another agency that does as much anti-violence education. I personally wanted to come to Rose Brook because of that, I really want to be a part of breaking the cycle of domestic violence.”

Rose Brooks Center did not reply to comment on the topic prior to publishing. The article will be updated if they decide to comment.