Field Museum staff, which include collections assistants and technicians, visitor service representatives, exhibition preparers, research scientists and facilities staff, filed for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board in December afterwith their campaign last fall. Museum leadership declined to voluntarily recognize their union, leading to an election, said Anders Lindall, a spokesperson for AFSCME Council 31.
“While the election process produced strong feelings and contrasting views, we are once again unified in serving our visitors, our community, and our world,” the museum said. “Our management team is ready to begin good-faith bargaining over an initial contract with AFSCME. We look forward to reaching an agreement.”
“People are concerned with making rent, with having a functioning car, with being able to afford a commute,” said Jakymec, who works organizing, preserving and preparing zoological specimens for research. “Museum staff hasn’t ever had a voice or the ability to advocate for ourselves,” said Jakymec, who has worked at the museum for a decade. She pointed to high turnover among staff and wage disparities as additional areas of concern among employees.
They'll be soooorrrry!
Because working in a museum entails unfathomable hardship and stress.
Look at those winners