We filed for our union election!
We are writing to share a momentous announcement: Today, we—Art Institute of Chicago Workers United (AICWU)—filed our petition for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board!
Together we have reached another major milestone in building our union, AICWU! It goes without saying that we couldn’t have come this far without you. Filing for our election is the latest step in the journey to win our voice at work, the culmination of hundreds of conversations among colleagues in which we have shared our experiences of working at the Art Institute of Chicago and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and our ideas to make our institutions more equitable and caring in their approach to workers.
Like our public launch on August 5 and our request for voluntary recognition on September 22, this is a key step in our organizing process. We have built overwhelming support for our union on cards and filed them with the Labor Board, triggering the election where we can all Vote Yes for ourselves, for our coworkers, and for the better museum and school we want to build together!
We are disappointed but not surprised that senior leadership thus far has refused to recognize our collective action and solidarity. Yet despite their efforts to dissuade us, we have continued to make connections, build relationships, and work together to grow and strengthen AICWU.
As we prepare for our election, we call upon senior leadership to stand down and remain truly neutral. Forming our union is a decision for us, the employees, to make—not the employer—and we are smart enough to make an informed decision on our own. We urge them to commit to a free and fair election without interference, misinformation, or fear of retaliation from senior leadership.
Leadership has said that they care about staff well-being. We have thoughtfully and carefully made our decision: Since a strong majority of us believe that a union is in our best interest, we hope they will demonstrate this care, cease their interference, and respect our choice.
In the coming weeks, we encourage you to come to AICWU organizing meetings as we build momentum for the election. If you haven’t signed a card yet, join us now to help shape AICWU! If you have, spread the word about why you’re saying AICWU Union Yes! We want every eligible employee to join us as we make history by standing together, voting Yes and winning our union!
In solidarity,
Your AICWU Organizing Committees
