Chicago History Museum union accuses management of retaliation, intimidation after recent staff firings
The union for Chicago History Museum workers alleges museum management retaliated against employees for organizing, including firing four members and threatening five others.
Chicago History Museum Workers United detailed the allegations in a letter delivered Wednesday to the museum’s board of trustees.
“We were deeply disappointed by management’s response to our organizing effort,” the letter reads. “Staff were intimidated, harassed, and bullied while trying to do their jobs for the benefit of our museum and community.”
Since forming the union in February, four museum employees were fired and three more were given “final warnings,” the letter says.
The letter also alleges that during a union action on April 16, two visitor services employees were verbally confronted by the museum’s senior HR director. The director allegedly shouted profanity and threatened the employees’ jobs. The incident occurred publicly during the museum’s free day in front of other staff and visitors. according to the union.
“This retaliation for their union activity is both unjust and illegal,” the letter reads.
A small delegation attempted to hand deliver the letter Wednesday during the board of trustees meeting. But the museum’s president and security stopped them, union spokesperson Anders Lindall told the Sun-Times. The delegation included a leader from the Chicago Federation of Labor, a faith leader from Arise Chicago and a couple of museum employees from the union organizing committee.
The museum did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Chicago History Museum Workers United formed in February with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31. It was the latest in a wave of unionizing efforts at several of Chicago’s cultural institutions all part of AFSCME’s nationwide Cultural Workers United campaign.
“We are committed to creating a respectful work environment that allows us to retain and attract talented and committed staff by addressing our concerns regarding wages, benefits and working conditions,” the union wrote in the letter.
Read the full letter:
