Field Museum Workers Celebrate First Union Contract Victory

In a significant win for cultural workers, employees at the Field Museum in Chicago have successfully secured their first union contract after more than two years of organizing efforts. The nearly 300 workers, under the banner of Field Museum Workers United and affiliated with AFSCME Council 31, are celebrating this milestone achievement.

Melissa Anderson, a library collections and preservations specialist with two decades at the museum, shared insights into the challenges faced by employees. The museum's global reputation and mission to connect "the natural world and the human story" were often cited by management to justify low wages, a practice workers dubbed as a "loyalty tax."

Determined to achieve fair compensation, the workers organized a large-scale picket in March at the museum’s iconic front steps to pressure management into negotiating a fair contract. The demonstration garnered significant public support, as noted by bargaining committee member Stanley Banks, who observed, "Museum guests were walking up and getting into the picket, some of them were members of other unions. That rally helped us create movement at the table."

Shortly after this demonstration, the employees reached an agreement on their first union contract, which includes salary increases ranging from nearly 14% to over 17%, additional pay for bilingual and translation skills, and enhanced retirement benefits with matching contributions for workers’ 401(3)(b) plans.

Moreover, the contract introduces stronger workplace protections, such as a grievance procedure and improved disciplinary rights. Anderson emphasized the importance of these protections, stating, “We now have things in place where someone can't decide tomorrow that they're going to fire you because of some random reason.”

With a 94% ratification vote in May, the four-year contract marks a new chapter for museum employees. Banks expressed optimism about the future, saying, “We created a strong foundation, and now we’re ready to build on it.”

This victory adds to the growing influence of AFSCME Cultural Workers United, which is at the forefront of organizing efforts for workers at cultural institutions across the country. Representing 45,000 workers in museums, libraries, zoos, and other cultural entities, it is the largest union of its kind.