Museum Peer-to-Peer Q&A
Nothing is more important to building our union than conversations between us as coworkers. We’re always happy to have those conversations in person, on the phone, or via email! Below is an informational email we sent to fellow museum staff on Aug. 5.
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Good Evening Colleagues!
Thank you so much for all of the interest and support that you have shown in our union, the Art Institute of Chicago Workers United (AICWU), in just the past two days!
We have gotten numerous inquiries and thought that it would be helpful for all to publicly address some of the most common questions here. (Never fear! We’ll keep it short and sweet.)
FAQ #1: What is an AFSCME?
We get this question a lot. Who is this AFSCME (American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees) we keep hearing about? Before we tackle this, rest assured: the union that is formed at AIC will be MADE UP ENTIRELY OF AIC STAFF! We are the union. Our union reps will be our colleagues, democratically elected by us, to negotiate with management toward the priorities we set. AFSCME Council 31 and their national colleagues—who represent cultural workers across the country—will help us achieve our goals, but the union is driven by staff and our needs and desires.
FAQ #2: Why didn’t I know about this sooner? I have ideas!
This is the beginning of our movement, not the end. We welcome—and want—everyone’s participation. And now that the union is public, we are able to have more open discussions with all without the fear of retaliation from management.
Some members of our community may feel frustrated by the announcement or upset that they were not included in planning. After all, this effort is meant to increase inclusivity in our museum. Please know that we were intentionally very conservative in the silent phase of the union campaign in terms of contacting people. For example, we avoided discussions with anyone who was in a gray area (potentially considered managers/supervisors and therefore likely not part of the bargaining unit).
If you’re someone who would have liked to have been involved from the start—we apologize and hope you’ll understand that we operated with duty of care as our only priority. And we are so glad you’re here now. Our union isn’t for just a few people; it’s for every eligible employee. We need to hear everyone’s voice!
If you want to get involved, meet with a colleague on the organizing committee, get more information, or share any concerns, simply email info@aicwu.org or reply to this email!
FAQ #3: If I choose to stand with my colleagues and create a union, what will it do for me?
Your colleagues are committed to working together to collectively determine the most pressing issues (pay equity, hazard pay, returning to work during the ongoing pandemic?) that we think management should address now. Not after a Gallup poll or an external assessment or in a few years when they have the bandwidth. Now.
FAQ #4: I’m concerned about the impact of the union on already existing equity work. Won’t this negate the work we’ve done?
Absolutely not. We’ve come together to form our union in order to support the equity work that is already taking place. We, the employees, have been doing that work together. Why would we try to undo it now? Some of us on the Organizing Committee (OC) are also participating in the staff working groups like the B/black Caucus and the Equity Forum. We know how important this work is and we want to give it teeth! As it stands, management is free to take suggestions that arise from these committees under advisement, but they are not obligated to act on them. We want to form a union that truly centers the experiences and voices of our BIPOC colleagues and does not just pay them lip service.
FAQ #5: How can I know if I want to join the union if they haven’t provided a list of wants?
We are the union, and what we want is the right to negotiate with management on our own behalf. We aren’t forming to ask for short-term fixes; we seek long-term, structural changes that provide all members of the bargaining unit with a voice. Once we have won our union (whether through voluntary recognition or a representation election) we will all decide together what changes we want to ask for.
Got more questions? Visit our website or send us an email. Convinced? Sign a card here.
From all of us on the OC, we take your trust, and your time, seriously. We firmly believe that we, the Art Institute employees, are stronger together and we look forward to a time when we can lift each other up.
Sincerely,
Your AICWU OC
