An organization providing legal services to those in need has become the first group of its kind in Nevada to unionize in an election supervised by the National Labor Relations Board.

Taylor Marie Bassell, staff attorney at Northern Nevada Legal Aid (NNLA), has been pushing to unionize the organization since March.

Bassell said she was able to present more than half of the staff's signatures to authorize a union in association with the National Organization of Legal Service Workers. However, when Bassell presented the signatures to the management team at NNLA in March, they refused to voluntarily recognize the legal aid union.

Unlike Southern Nevada legal services, which had been able to resolve issues affecting employees "without going the full step" to unionizing, Bassell said Northern Nevada employees faced constant pushback from NNLA's management.

Because NNLA declined to voluntarily recognize the legal aid union, the National Labor Relations Board was required to hold an election for NNLA to become unionized. 

The organization's request to unionize was ultimately approved July 10 when the ballots were counted in Oakland in front of the National Labor Relations Board, with advocates for the Northern Nevada Legal Aid union watching via Zoom.

"It basically gives us a seat at the table," Bassell said of joining the union. Twelve people voted in favor of joining the union, eight were opposed. About 38 staff members were eligible to vote. 

NNLA has requested time to evaluate what they believe the implications of this unionization will be.

Northern Nevada Legal Aid is the first legal aid organization in Nevada to unionize among the six legal aid organizations statewide. National Organization of Legal Service Workers represents more than 4,000 employees at more than 100 organizations across the U.S.

NNLA is a nonprofit that assists those who cannot afford to hire an attorney. Legal aid from NNLA is free or low-cost for those who use their services. 

Bassell said some of the benefits she hopes to gain from unionization efforts are an increase in diversity, equity and inclusion at NNLA, increased workers rights and providing an opportunity for workers to have their voices heard. 

Bassell said that she is hopeful this is something that will "inspire other legal services providers in our state" to look at their employment terms and secure workers rights for themselves. 

This story was updated at 10:20 a.m. on 7/12/24 to include details about the number of eligible voters.