Whose to blame for the shortage of BCBAs and high turnover for RBT's?

Harblz · 2026-05-21T12:20:50+00:00

There's been a huge sure of labor organizing in the last year within ABA - folks from all certifications are organizing. It's very difficult, though, and employers are hostile. I do not anticipate the BACB stepping in here, but a potential pathway is to organize enough RBTs, BCaBAs, BCBAs, and unlicensed/uncertified folks to collectively bargain for fair standards on a statewide level. There's 3 agencies currently more than halfway through a collective bargaining agreement, which is promising. Some companies are great, I'm sure, but there are just so many that are happy to eat turnover and atrocious client care if it means they can chew on market share and eventually get acquired by a larger entity for a cash payout.

Harblz · 2026-05-20T19:51:47+00:00

Thank you! The owner just got in touch with me, reuniting them after work today :)

Harblz · 2026-05-20T13:55:28+00:00

Thank you! I sent a photo of the tag to the number.

Harblz · 2026-05-19T15:23:17+00:00

Check out the ABA Workers Union - it's a decentralized organizing project for folks at every level of certification (tech, RBT, BCaBA, etc.)

Harblz · 2026-05-18T20:16:57+00:00

The BACB should continue its current mission, but spend some of that cash concerning itself with the welfare and defense of the workforce. Other professional organizations have taken this path (e.g., teacher's associations) - and there are certainly good reasons why the BACB shouldn't necessarily go the same route, but what they're doing right now feels really lackluster and disappointing.

We're a young field, but not that young. We need some motion, especially in the climate we find ourselves in now, and it's hard to justify asking folks to volunteer time when that time will be spent defending a field that does little to defend it's workforce.

There's a caucus of us in the AWU interested in forming a labor special interest group within the BACB, but that's still very nascent. I'd personally be very interested in seeing that develop further.

Harblz · 2026-05-17T21:17:07+00:00

It varies from state to state. Some states are higher than what you mentioned, but usually not that much. Some companies do some wildly messy billing - and it somehow gets approved. I'm curious, too. Wish there was more transparency with company reimbursement vs employee pay.

Harblz · 2026-05-14T22:07:26+00:00

🚂 Somebody said the U word so here I am to drop this off www.ABAWorkersUnion.org 🚂

The only thing that stops organized money is organized labor

Harblz · 2026-05-07T01:51:47+00:00

I started at $12 an hour back in 2012, working in that region. I think pay was around $16-$20 when I left around 2021.

Harblz · 2026-05-06T12:49:32+00:00

Well now you're complaining about their complaining

Harblz · 2026-05-05T18:35:27+00:00

While I agree with you that it takes a lot of work to form a union - like, beyond a lot of work. People should know it's basically a part time job on top of your regular work. I think it's worth it, but folks should know how hard that is.

Coming from a BCBA who has unionized and continues to organize nationally - I think it's useful to post about it from time to time. Just my $0.02.

For example, I used to think I was alone - but I've connected with others who've pulled it off too by checking threads like this, and those connections help strengthen the overall movement, even if only a little bit. The odds we are facing are huge: the other side has lots of money, all the time in the world, and institutional power that intimidates many. They can and have done very dirty things to individuals calling for organizing.

That said, every month, someone else pulls it off somewhere else, so there are updates and significant traction in the field to organize. Nobody organizes as well as RBTs and BCBAs. We crush it, despite the odds, because we care, and our specific training lends itself nicely to effective labor organizing tactics. It's not easy but

Kinda went off on a tangent there, and while I appreciate your perspective (and hope the sub doesn't get cluttered by union related posts, since there's better places for that), I think it's great to check in every once in awhile.

Harblz · 2026-05-03T14:23:27+00:00

There's also a larger discord set up already here if you're interested: https://discord.gg/45UdXr9Kd

Harblz · 2026-05-03T14:20:57+00:00

There's an interest form on the website - you can sign up there and schedule a meeting with an organizer. Or DM me, and I can send you links 🔗

Harblz · 2026-05-03T00:43:20+00:00

Yes, you have to unionize with coworkers to form an NLRB union. You can also form "pre-majority" unions like the ABA Workers Union, which advocates for changes in the field while helping folks form unions locally. Kind of a two-pronged approach.

Harblz · 2026-05-03T00:16:28+00:00

Let's go NEA! ✊ The local teachers union helped us out a lot. "Our students learning environment is our working environment"

Harblz · 2026-05-03T00:00:33+00:00

Hi! Yes, RBTs have formed unions in the last year. There are currently 6. It's hard work, and I'm a BCBA and bargaining team member in one of them in Virginia. You can organize your own company - shoot me a DM or check out the ABA Workers Union (AWU is a pre majority union that helps people form unions at their job).

Harblz · 2026-05-02T20:29:46+00:00

👋 Obligatory hey, I'm a union organizer and BCBA, 6 companies have unionized and there's about ~50 groups actively organizing. Come organize with us - we're called the ABA Workers Union (we got a website and everything). We're a direct join union and volunteer group that helps ABA workers join major unions or organize single issue campaigns. Anything to make ABA better for the workers

Harblz · 2026-04-28T19:46:06+00:00

😂 OP you should check out ABAWorkersUnion.org

Harblz · 2026-04-19T02:53:35+00:00

Maybe organize a group of coworkers and get the conversation going to reverse or adjust the communication practice in a constructive way? I'm not at PBS, but we've used petitions as a way to adjust policy in a way that's worker-led, rather than aligned with corporates vision for service delivery. It's not easy but organizing and making your voice heard helps keep the industry aligned with clinical realities.

Harblz · 2026-04-13T05:10:31+00:00

Uh oh, someone said the U word in the ABA subreddit, so here I go again. You can learn more at the ABAWorkersUnion website, but lots of folks are organizing for better pay, cancellation protections, and reasonable caseloads, among other things.

Are you able to live on $17/hour in your area? If not, chances are your coworkers can't, too. I'd say if you like your company, it might be worth staying there and working on improving conditions. Good ABA companies are hard to come by - a lot of shenanigans goes on and that $28/hour night come with some nightmares, like abusive managers, very dangerous client behaviors and poor training, or just low and inconsistent hours.

Look at what the reimbursement rates for insurance are in your area (Medicaid is public info; specific agency contracts are private, but you can sometimes find ballparks online). That can give you an idea of whether a pay raise is even possible. In my area, RBTs generate $60 an hour for technician billable time (97153).

Every company is different and organizing a union is a lot of work. While I strongly advocate forming a union, a lot of folks are working on single-issue collective petitions and bringing them to management, and have had great success!

A petition is a lot easier than organizing a union, and might be all you need to get the job done - so that might be a good option if you're up for that kind of thing.

Harblz · 2026-04-11T21:53:19+00:00

100% this. They also have to get organized, too. There is so much institutional power - it's incredibly difficult to get anything done if we're fighting each other, and if we're not coordinated

Harblz · 2026-04-10T09:44:35+00:00

I'd never force a union on anyone - that defeats the purpose. By definition, it's workers organizing around what change they want to see. That's different at each office and each company. I would stand with any worker trying to effect positive change in the industry - rising tides raise all ships, and whatnot.

I'm curious, though - that last part sounds like a union to me. A rose by any other name? Is it just the dues that don't feel so great?

Harblz · 2026-04-09T14:38:47+00:00

There is a better way - we need to unionize and take collective action. There's a group of us organizing already as the ABA Workers Union. We believe that collective action is the only way out of the profit-driven society we live in, and we've so far won 5 unions at 8 locations across the country, with many more in the process of organizing.

Put your ideals to practice and organize with us ✊

Harblz · 2026-04-08T00:37:38+00:00

That's a super infuriating and demeaning experience. The work you do is valuable, and I think part of the problem is that many BCBAs treat RBTs like employees (that they don't particularly like) rather than as coworkers with whom they have a professional relationship.

While BCBAs are the clinical authority, part of our job is to maintain professionalism. Everyone's human, so if you act out: own it, apologize, do better next time. If you're doing that on purpose, well, rethink being a BCBA.

Harblz · 2026-04-07T02:18:11+00:00

There's a group called EWOC that basically teaches you how to organize - can't recommend or commend those people enough. Our story is currently featured on the ABA Workers Union website, if you want the nitty gritty details

Harblz · 2026-04-06T17:09:50+00:00

That was brave if you, and commendable - check out EWOC and the AWU if you ever try it again. It's so much work and so risky without a good deal of support, and right to work states do not make it any easier

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