NORTHAMPTON — Employees at Safe Passage, the organization that works to end domestic violence and relationship abuse, are moving forward with plans to form a union.

In a statement released March 19, workers announced that 10 days earlier they reached out to Executive Director Marianne Winters and the board of directors announcing their intent to form a union affiliated with UAW Local 2322, based in Holyoke.

The notification requests voluntary recognition of the union by April 1, which employees say would show support for labor justice and bring stability through the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We believe this will create a new path forward for workers, management and clients, and benefit the agency as a whole,” according to the statement from UAW Local 2322.

Winters said in a phone interview Monday that her agency is asking for relief from the quick deadline because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The board of directors is eager to engage in discussions, recognizing the right of staff to organize,” Winters said.

She added that the 33 staff members are performing extraordinarily under the circumstances.

“At this moment we’re laser-focused on keeping all staff, clients and shelter guests as safe and healthy as possible, going to mission-critical service, and ensuring that we have the financial means to keep everyone on staff,” Winters said.

The workers’ tasks include counseling and advocating for survivors, educating the community about domestic violence and organizing events like the Hot Chocolate Run each December.

If a union is created, Safe Passage would join other providers in being unionized, including ServiceNet, Tapestry Health, New England Center for Women in Transition and the YWCA.

Calls and emails to a member of the organizing committee and a representative from the UAW Local 2322 were not immediately returned.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.