Museum Workers File For Union Election

By Judd Mustin, The Chicago Times

December 28, 2022

CHICAGO – Field Museum workers announced Tuesday that they have filed for a union representation election to decide if they can join the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Field Museum staff seeking to join a union that affiliates with AFSCME’s Council 31 filed a petition for an election with the National Labor Relations Board in Chicago.  Ander Lindall, Council 31 spokesman, said the petition included signed union cards from about 300 people in the proposed bargaining unit.

Pro-union staff, calling themselves Field Museum Workers United, would include positions ranging from exhibitions workers, visitor service representatives, research scientists, and groundskeepers.

Back in November, Field Museum workers demanded that museum CEO Julian Siggers recognize their union, but Siggers refused opening the door for election.

The NLRB is expected to schedule an election in the coming weeks if the museum does not file an objection to the workers’ union petition which would trigger a hearing by the NLRB.