Urban Justice Center

Cons

Each project director is tasked with raising their own funding. This leads to disparities in salaries among similar positions in different projects. However, one of the projects that has lower salaries (due to limits in funding) has very low turnover, and increasing salaries would lead to layoffs.

Over 6 years ago, the staff voted to certify a union. We still do not have a contract. While there have been delays on both union and management sides, the union seems to be responsible for the vast majority of delays. It also seems that individual staff don't understand the unique structure of the UJC, which includes the right of project directors to manage their projects as they see best. For example, a couple projects (CDP & PCYP) use a consensus decision making process. There are benefits and disadvantages to this model. My project has made it clear to the director that they don't want this model, as it can take time away from serving clients. They prefer providing input to the director, who takes it into account when making decisions. Other projects are experiencing stress due to wanting a consensus model, but their directors not wanting it.

I wonder whether the disgruntled employees who have commented here have experienced other employment environments. I have worked in more than a dozen jobs since my early teens, and am surprised at the freedom and benefits at the UJC. I am also confused about the disdain for the executive director- who has an open door policy - very much unlike other places I have worked.

The UJC has its problems, but overall, it is an excellent place to work.