In an open letter signed by more than 50 workers at the museum, staff said they were seeking pay equity, increased professional development opportunities to prevent what they described as high turnover and understaffing as well as improvements to the museum’s health and safety protocols, including increased training.
“I personally love working here, and it’s a wonder to be here,” said Gary Holliday II, a guest engagement facilitator who works giving tours at the museum. “But the more I work here and the more I got accustomed here, the more I started seeing issues that arise.” Low pay is a major sticking point, said Holliday, who said he makes $19 an hour. “I live by the paycheck,” he said. Anders Lindall, a spokesperson for AFSCME 31, said that most employees in the prospective bargaining unit make between $17 and $20 an hour.In a statement, the museum said it “respects its employees’ rights to choose to unionize if they believe that is appropriate.”
The museum said it had a “very active open-door policy for all staff members to engage about any and all issues and opportunities.”
I’m aghast at the appalling and demeaning working conditions at the Museum of Science and Industry — on par with the forced labor camps in China. Workers of the world, UNITE!