“I’ve been organizing 17 years, and it’s a classic move from the playbook about how to bust unions,” said Carlos Vellanoweth, an AFSCME organizer who worked with the Marciano employees. “They’ll say, ‘Oh, if you go union, we’ll have to close shop.’ Well, this one actually did!”
Forty workers, mostly part-time docents and floor coordinators, retail and ticket desk employees, maintenance staff and youth education staff held an election in May 2017. A union contract was ratified in March 2018.of Tolerance who led the union organizing, said workers wanted better working conditions, better pay and full-time hours.was $12 an hour in 2017After bargaining, the lowest-paid employees received a 41.
Lylwyn Esangga, organizing director at AFSCME district council 36, which represents Southern California, said her organization has been in discussions with other museums in L.A. and San Diego, though she couldn’t disclose which ones. Esangga did say that similar employment issues continue to come up.