The tide is turning in Applied Behavior Analysis. On May 1st, workers at Verbal Beginnings won their union, marking one of the first private-sector ABA union victories in years. Just over a month later, on June 12th, clinicians at Compass Behavioral Group followed suit with a resounding vote to unionize. These back-to-back wins, led by both Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) and Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), are more than just milestones. They’re proof that unionization in ABA is not only possible but necessary for a more ethical, sustainable, and compassionate future in our field. Both groups of workers affiliated with the Teamsters, a mighty union of over 1.4 million workers internationally.
For too long, ABA workers have struggled in isolation, burned out by low wages, high caseloads, unsafe conditions, and top-down decision-making. These victories shatter the myth that organizing in this field is a dead end. RBTs and BCBAs stood shoulder-to-shoulder, organizing across their different certifications and job classifications and showing the power of unity— and not the boss' hierarchy — is the path forward. When front line workers unite in a single bargaining unit, they build collective power not only to defend their own rights, but to improve client care and demand a model of ABA rooted in dignity, compassion, and respect. These workers stand 10 toes down for a future ABA directed not by profits, but by the people that make change happen.
Join the fight to organize this field today at www.ABAWorkersUnion.org