Pack Fund for Erica Prather

Welcome! Our fundraiser is now closed, but you can read our story here!

We are Defenders United, the employee labor union for Defenders of Wildlife. This fundraiser is for our friend and colleague Erica Prather, who was unjustly terminated by Defenders of Wildlife on February 18th, 2022. We are raising money to help Erica with emergency expenses due to the sudden loss of her salary and benefits while her case is under review by the National Labor Relations Board. We also want to help Erica and her partner enjoy their wedding week. We suggest a donation of $25, but please donate whatever amount you are comfortable with. Thank you! See below for more information about Erica and her story. Follow our movement on Twitter and Instagram @Defenders_staff #IStandwithErica

 

Why We're Raising Funds

 

*Note: All the following information has been shared with the full consent of Erica Prather and is in compliance with national labor law.

 

Erica is one of the most compassionate, dedicated, and genuine people we know. She worked tirelessly on Defenders' behalf for almost three years, conducting education, outreach, and grassroots organizing around conservation-based federal policies in the state of Arizona. She is well-loved by her co-workers and an inspiration to the volunteer youth she works with, many of whom have spoken up on her behalf in recent weeks. Most importantly, Erica advocated making Defenders of Wildlife a more open, inclusive, and diverse workplace.

 

Unfortunately, it is this quality that seems to have resulted in Erica's sudden termination. On February 14th, 2022, a Defenders of Wildlife board member received a complaint from a disgruntled volunteer who had attended a virtual event that Erica had organized and co-hosted. Less than 24 hours later, Defenders leadership informed Erica that she was suspended with pay. She was locked out of all her work accounts and told she could not go into the office. Three days later, all Defenders employees received a brief notice that Erica was no longer with the organization. She had been officially terminated.

 

We were shocked. That a single complaint from one disgruntled volunteer could result in such harsh and rapid retaliation from Defenders leadership, without extensive investigation or recourse to less extreme disciplinary action, is deeply disturbing behavior and a point of anxiety for all Defenders staff who regularly engage with the public. Several attendees of the abovementioned event wrote to Defenders leadership defending Erica's actions and describing disruptive behavior on the part of the volunteer who complained to the Board. None of these statements were considered in her termination documents, nor her record of achievements on behalf of Defenders of Wildlife's mission.

 

Defenders of Wildlife maintains the right to terminate employees at will. It is, however, against national labor law to terminate employees due to union activities. Erica is a founding member of Defenders United and is one of our most outspoken supporters. The rapid timeline, minimal investigation, and absolute lack of recourse to performance improvement tools in her termination indicate a clear bias on the part of Defenders leadership. On February 22, our representatives at OPEIU Local 2 filed a discrimination charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Defenders of Wildlife for their termination of Erica. However, it will be months before her case is resolved.

 

Erica embodies everything Defenders stands for. She has exhibited passion, energy, integrity, and - most of all - compassion since the moment she joined Defenders. We have become a better organization because of her. While we wait for the NLRB to rule on her case, please support Erica to overcome unemployment expenses from her termination by making a donation today.

 

The Bigger Picture

 

Erica's termination is just the latest in a long string of "departures" from Defenders of Wildlife. She is the 101st staff member (of roughly 145 employees) to leave the organization in just three years. Defenders leadership perpetuates the idea that it is negotiating in good faith with our union despite (1) refusing to recognize us voluntarily, (2) repeatedly violating the ground rules of bargaining, resulting in four Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges, and (3) making inaccurate statements about the union's role in all-staff emails.

 

We will not be intimidated by leadership's behavior, which damages Defenders' reputation, destroys staff morale, violates our organizational values, and demonstrates poor judgment. We will not tolerate the cursory firing of champions like Erica, nor any future retaliatory actions they should choose to take.

 

We care about Defenders of Wildlife. We are passionate about its mission -- our mission -- to protect and restore imperiled wildlife throughout North America. We also believe we can better serve this mission in a workplace that is inclusive, diverse, and supportive of employee needs, steered by leaders who embody the values they purport to uphold.

 

Learn more and follow our movement on Twitter and Instagram @Defenders_staff #IStandwithErica