As the non-management workers of SEACC, we are proud to stand together now as SEACC United, affiliated with Communications Workers of America, District 7. We are organizing because we know what SEACC could be — a just, sustainable, effective force in Southeast Alaska to both us as employees and our community.

SEACC United is inspired by the work done by the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council advocating for the Tongass National Forest, the waters of the Inside Passage, and a healthy climate in Southeast Alaska.

We are unionizing so we may obtain further support in promoting conservation in the Tongass and Chilkat Valley, maintaining our invaluable relationships with Tribal members, partner organizations, and supporters, and being effective agents of change in Southeast.

We believe SEACC would not be as effective without its current staff members working tirelessly on operations needs, relationship building, watchdogging, researching, learning, and much more.

Our goal is to sustain SEACC as a healthy workplace that values justice and dignity for all staff in order to be fully effective in our work. We also believe SEACC leadership has work to do in creating a more just, safe, and equitable atmosphere so we may truly fulfill our individual roles.

We love SEACC. SEACC United shares the current mission of the organization, which states, “To protect the special places of the world’s largest temperate rainforest, promote conservation, and advocate for sustainability in human use of natural resources. Inspired by the land, wildlife, cultures, and communities of Southeast Alaska, SEACC strives to ensure this interconnected whole exists for future generations.”

We also love Southeast Alaska. To some, it is our home. To those who consider ourselves guests, it is an incredible place to do our work for this organization and live our lives.

We are grateful to our colleagues for their passion and dedication and know how much each staff and board member cares about Southeast Alaska and about SEACC. We look forward to working together with SEACC leadership to realize our union’s vision to improve everyone’s working conditions to make our organization as a whole stronger as we move forward, together.

In solidarity,

SEACC United

Lauren Cusimano

Shannon Donahue

Heather Evoy

Mel Izard