Chicago History Museum employees form union with AFSCME

Chicago History Museum employees are making history of their own: On Feb. 12, they announced they're forming their union with AFSCME Council 31.

The news came in a public letter signed by 27 members of the union’s organizing committee and distributed to their co-workers this morning.

“We are sincerely committed to this institution and the work we do in carrying out its mission and caring for its vast collections, but we need proper support and resources,” the workers wrote.

The letter says that together in their union, employees will seek better communication with management, improved job security, livable wages, a voice on the job and other priorities.

When certified, Chicago History Museum Workers United/AFSCME will represent nearly 70 employees, including curators, librarians, designers, visitor services associates, maintenance technicians and others.

History Museum workers are the latest Chicago-area cultural workers to form a union with AFSCME in recent years, joining the Art Institute of Chicago, the Field Museum, the Museum of Science & Industry, Shedd Aquarium and others.

“The history of Chicago is deeply rooted in the labor movement, and we are honored to not only preserve and share, but to make our own place in that history alongside our colleagues at cultural institutions across Chicago,” the workers wrote.

“[C]ollectively we are all the union. Together, we can create a sustainable future for ourselves, our institution, and the communities we serve.”