Lisa Schreibersdorf

The Brooklyn Defender Services Union ended a five-day strike with a tentative contract agreement that includes higher wages, improved benefits, and remote work arrangements. The deal, which requires member ratification, follows pressure from New York elected officials and comes amid similar strike plans by other legal service providers in the city.

The public defender union in Brooklyn and Queens struck over unresolved wage demands after a 21-hour bargaining session. Union leaders criticized management for refusing terms to sustain low-paid staff, while management claimed they offered a strong proposal. The union represents around 500 staff, including attorneys and support workers, with supervisors handling cases during the strike.

Hundreds of lawyers and staff at Brooklyn Defender Services and Queens Defenders struck in Brooklyn and Queens over unresolved negotiations with management on wages, benefits, and remote work policies. The strike, averted from picketing due to poor air quality, risks disrupting courts but remains operational for now, with supervisors covering caseloads.

A public defender union representing nearly 300 attorneys in Brooklyn and Queens authorized a strike after 96% of members voted to do so due to stalled negotiations over salaries, health insurance, and hybrid work schedules. The union, Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS), is part of the Association of Legal Advocates and Attorneys (ALAA), and management has since presented a new economic proposal, though no strike deadline has been set.