With backing for a majority of employees, organizers at the Art Institute of Chicago announced they are asking the museum to voluntarily recognize the first labor union at the cultural institution, The Chicago Tribune reported.
The Art Institute of Chicago Workers United would be the first major museum union in the city.
The employees are seeking higher wages and improved working conditions, which were exacerbated by more than 200 layoffs and furloughs during the COVID pandemic. The union would represent more than 600 non-management positions at the museum, including art installers, curators, custodians, librarians, and retail workers. It would also represent about 300 academic advisers, administrative assistants, mailroom employees and other staff at the nearby school.
The union would be part of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
The full Chicago Tribune article is at www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-art-institute-union-20210922-ywrxyv476zewfihw3vadvctn5i-story.html .
