Museum Public Letter
Dear colleagues,
We believe the Art Institute of Chicago’s vision of an inspired and just society must begin with the inclusive, humane, and respectful treatment of its staff. The museum currently operates on a system of hierarchy and opaque decision-making that undermines its stated goals and values. We believe there can be no equity without power sharing; therefore, we, the undersigned—staff members from various departments and diverse roles across the institution—are uniting to form our union with AFSCME Council 31. By negotiating a fair contract with management, we will work to realize the museum’s potential as a true leader among its peers.
Though concerns about wages, workloads, and working conditions are not new to the Art Institute, the financial and social uncertainties of the past year have brought these issues to a head. At the height of the pandemic, many museum employees were asked to work on site without hazard pay and with limited resources. Almost two hundred of our colleagues were furloughed or laid off. The responsibilities of those terminated or put on unpaid leave were transferred, without discussion or transparent decision-making, onto remaining colleagues. As a result, we have been forced to adapt to a challenging new work environment in which we shoulder greater responsibility for less pay and as few opportunities for advancement as ever. Moreover, these challenges have exposed the structures in the museum that uphold systemic racism. Forming a union that centers the experiences and voices of BIPOC staff is the best means to redress our institution’s colonialist legacy.
We, the members of the organizing committee, assert that all Art Institute workers deserve:
a voice in the decisions that affect us
better wages and benefits
transparency around compensation and advancement, and equal access to these opportunities regardless of class, disability, gender, or race
safe working conditions, reasonable hours, and adequate resources to perform our jobs
a workplace free of harassment and microaggression
Through the collective voice of the Art Institute of Chicago Workers United, we will advocate for an equitable, sustainable, and transparent workplace for museum employees at every level.
We urge senior leadership to honor our legal right to organize a union without facing intimidation or coercion. We ask that management not waste resources on distributing anti-union propaganda, hiring anti-union lawyers, or holding mandatory anti-union meetings. Art Institute leadership can demonstrate its commitment to equity by respecting our right to organize a union.
We ask you to join our collective campaign for change. The union is not an outside party negotiating for us; we employees are the union. Individually, our voices are quiet and hold little sway, but when we join together we can speak loudly and powerfully on our own behalf. Putting our trust in each other will ensure that employees—the heart of the Art Institute—are heard now and in the future. We urge you to vote yes to unionizing.
