Catalist Union Ratifies First Contract with Catalist

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 17, 2022 
Contacts: Biruk Assefa ([email protected]), [email protected]

CWA Members at Catalist Ratify First Contract

Washington, D.C. — Members of the Catalist Union (CWA Local 2336), the first group of workers to form a union at a progressive data firm, have ratified their first contract with Catalist. The contract will last for three years.

Catalist maintains the longest-running voter file outside the major political parties and provides a variety of data services to clients. Founded in 2006, Catalist works exclusively with unions, progressive organizations and Democratic campaigns.

“From becoming the first union workers at a progressive data firm to ratifying a first contract in record time, it has been an incredible journey and we could not be more proud of what we have accomplished,” said the CWA Catalist Bargaining Team. “The swift ratification of this new contract is a reflection of the Catalist workforce’s dedication to ensure a safe, inclusive and democratic workplace. It is also a reflection of the Catalist management’s commitment to its workers. We look forward to continuing to work together to implement elements of this contract and improve our workplace for the better. We will continue to stand in solidarity with all workers fighting for a union and a voice on the job within our industry and beyond.”

Michael Frias, Catalist’s CEO — who started his career as a union organizer for the U.S. Steelworkers — congratulated the union members on ratifying their first contract. “Catalist was founded to help the labor movement succeed and having a solid contact like this in place is good for workers, good for management and good for our clients. We’re so proud to be a union shop.”

The workers organized with the Communications Workers of America’s Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) to form their union in July 2021. They are members of Communications Workers of American Local 2336, based in Washington, DC. 

Catalist voluntarily recognized the Catalist Union and reached a tentative agreement on a first contract with the Catalist Union in just a year.

The Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) is a network of worker-organizers and their staff working every single day to build the voice and power necessary to ensure the future of the tech, game, and digital industries in the United States and Canada, including workers at progressive tech firms such as Change.org, Blue State, Catalist and EveryAction/Bonterra.

CODE-CWA is a project of the Communications Workers of America which represents hundreds of thousands of workers throughout tech, media, telecom, and other industries who stand together to fight for justice on the job and in our communities.