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AICWU Updates & Writings
Beat misinformation, play Anti-Union Bingo!
Senior leadership of the museum and school are pushing misleading claims. Using this card, mark an X whenever you see or hear one of these tactics or talking points.
We filed for our union election!
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.
Workers have spoken: Recognize our union!
We have big, exciting news: A majority of our coworkers, AIC and SAIC employees both, have signed union authorization cards!
SAIC faculty letter supports AICWU
136 faculty of the School of the Art Institute have signed an open letter to SAIC President Elissa Tenny expressing their support for our union and calling on “senior leadership to stop diverting resources from SAIC’s mission to pay anti-union lawyers and consultants”.
This Is What a Union Looks Like
Thank you for making yesterday’s rally such a positive and successful event. Our lineup of inspiring speakers spoke to a crowd of 200 people and reminded us all why we came together in the first place: to uplift and listen to each other.
Speak Out with AICWU on Thursday, Sept. 9
AIC/SAIC employees and allies stand together and speak out for our union! Thursday, Sept. 9 at 5:30 p.m. RSVP here!
Meet Fellow Museum Activists from the Walker, Penn, PMA, and Harvard
Join us for a conversation with fellow museum activists about their union organizing experiences!
Museum, school hire anti-worker firms to fight employees
In an attempt to target and undermine us, their own employees, AIC/SAIC senior leadership has hired two costly firms to fight our choice to organize.
Support from Nearly 150 Elected Officials for Art Institute of Chicago Workers’ Union
Strong message to museum, school: Organizing must be “free from employer interference”
SAIC Peer-to-Peer Q&A
At this juncture in our efforts to organize, as we’re creating the opportunity to negotiate a fair contract with management, we want to assert our belief in SAIC’s potential.
Museum Finances
Did you know that just one month after the museum laid off 51 employees last June 2020, it reported $1.41 billion in net assets (including $480 million in unrestricted net assets), a $1.14 billion endowment and a total operating surplus of $68.5 million for the fiscal year?
Informational Meetings for SAIC Staff on 8/19
You're invited to a SAIC Union Informational Meeting on Aug. 19. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
AICWU Banner Drop!
Thank you to all the members of our organizing committee from across the school and museum who participated in last week’s banner drop. We could not be more proud and energized! Solidarity forever.
Museum Peer-to-Peer Q&A
We had a big week! SAIC staff announced they are joining our campaign. While we will form separate bargaining units, we are happy to be working together in solidarity towards a strong voice for workers!
Informational Meetings for Museum Staff on 8/11
Register for an informational meeting and learn more about AICWU from colleagues! Open to all union-eligible museum employees.
SAIC Public Letter
Through the collective voice of the Art Institute of Chicago Workers United, we will advocate for an equitable, sustainable, and transparent workplace for SAIC employees at every level.
Support for AICWU
We are grateful for all the encouragement and support we have received this week from allies all over Chicago and beyond. From all of us in AICWU, thank you!
AICWU Press: Launch Week!
It’s been a busy week! More than 300 employees of the Art Institute of Chicago are coming together to form our union, the Art Institute of Chicago Workers United (AICWU). Read about our launch and hear from AICWU members in the news.