Ohio's Gateway Film Center Workers Unionize with AFSCME Council 8

In a noteworthy move reflecting a broader trend among cultural institutions, employees at Columbus's Gateway Film Center have successfully formed a union. This decision, reached unanimously on November 13, aligns the nonprofit cinema with AFSCME Council 8, marking it as the fourth cultural entity in Ohio to do so.

The workers at Gateway Film Center were inspired by the unionization successes of their peers at the Wexner Art Center, Columbus Museum of Art, and the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati. They embarked on their unionization journey in September to tackle challenges such as erratic scheduling, management's lack of transparency, and understaffing. These challenges were particularly burdensome for employees managing admissions and operations at the independent theater.

The workers attribute their swift unionization success, achieved in under three months, to the strong bonds and regular communication within their group. They are now eager to move forward with negotiating their first contract.

Nationwide, a growing number of employees in libraries, museums, zoos, and similar venues are joining forces under the AFSCME Cultural Workers United initiative. They aim to secure improved remuneration and working conditions, demand fairness, and push for transparency within their workplaces. AFSCME currently represents more cultural workers than any other union in the United States, with approximately 35,000 members.