Philadelphia Non-Profit Spent Funds on Failed Anti-Union Campaign, Documents Reveal

A recent review conducted by LaborLab reveals that the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, a Philadelphia non-profit, hired LRI Consulting Services, a firm specializing in anti-union tactics, to oversee a campaign aimed at dissuading employees from unionizing.

LRI, known for its high fees of $425 per hour plus expenses, employs tactics like mandatory meetings and even surveillance. In this case, they executed the work through a subcontractor, VIF Estates Inc., which interestingly shares the same PO Box as LRI.

Despite these efforts, the employees voted overwhelmingly (80%) in favor of forming a union with AFSCME Local 397.

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit relying heavily on donor contributions, the Schuylkill Center’s use of thousands of dollars for this unsuccessful campaign has raises concerns about the use of such funds and potential contradictions with its mission of environmental stewardship and community engagement.


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