Dattner Architects Staff Seek Union Recognition, Would Become Largest Organized U.S. Firm

At Dattner Architects, employees are seeking a card-check neutrality agreement to facilitate union recognition without undergoing a formal election via the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The firm, which has a workforce exceeding 100, claims to have a supermajority of backing while collaborating with the International Association of Machinists (IAM), as reported by Alex Press in Jacobin. Should this agreement be established, Dattner would become the largest architecture firm in the U.S. to unionize, following Bernheimer Architecture and Sage & Coombs Architects. IAM representative David DiMaria expressed support for architectural workers' organizing efforts, stating, "every worker deserves a union." Kirsten Sibilia, managing partner, emphasized the firm's respect for employees' choices but advocates for an NLRB election as the fairest approach. Organizers plan to meet with deputy mayor Julie Su at New York City Hall on October 21 to discuss the union initiative, according to Jacobin. This campaign occurs amidst ongoing labor disputes in the architecture sector, including a court case involving Snøhetta and former employees after the NLRB's complaint in January regarding alleged union busting, while Studio V Architecture's unionization attempt was paused in May after being announced in April.