April 2023 labor updates

Chicago Labor News

Art Institute of Chicago Workers United Picket for Fair Contract

On March 30th, members of Art Institute of Chicago Workers United (AICW) held a picket outside of the museum to demand a fair contract. AICW has been bargaining for nearly a year, asking for better wages and benefits, safer working conditions especially in light of the pandemic, a harassment free workplace and more. The union has opportunities for community support listed on their website.

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Employees File to Unionize

Employees of the Notebaert Nature Museum have filed to unionize with AFSCME Council 31! Nineteen employees have signed an open letter urging museum leadership to voluntarily recognized the union, which would represent 45 employees. The letter also declares that Notebaert staff are unionizing for better wages, a voice in decisions that affect employees, and more.

Update on Berlin Night Club’s Fight to Unionize

UNITE HERE Local 1 tweeted on April 5th that Berlin Night Club workers have officially voted to unionize! Berlin’s employees will now move on to bargain for their first contract. UNITE HERE Local 1 represents hospitality workers in Chicago and Northwest Indiana.

labor beyond chicago

Three Rutgers University Unions are on Strike

As of April 9th, three unions at Rutger’s University are on strike! Rutgers AAUP-AFT, the Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union, the Biomedical and Health Sciences union, AAUP-BHSNJ, all together represent nearly 10,000 workers across three campuses in three cities. The unions are demanding wage increases especially for graduate workers, adjuncts and postdoctoral associates as well as job security and healthcare subsidies specifically for part time workers. A fourth Rutgers union, the Rutgers Administrators-American Federation of Teachers (URA-AFT) are also considering a strike. Several scholars of labor and the Black Freedom Struggle penned an open letter highlighting the intersections between the Rutgers unions’ work and the fight for racial justice, which others can sign in support.

Update: On April 15th Rutgers AAUP-AFT announced they’ve reached a tentative agreement!

Goddard College Staff on Strike

A theme among higher education workers going on strike has been wages – specifically, wages that long ceased to meet cost of living requirements. In Vermont, Goddard College staff union also went on strike in late March because of inadequate wages. In their petition – which is still open, you can sign it! – the union states that there has been no cost living adjustment in 10 years.

Update: Goddard College emailed all petition signers on April 19, announcing that they had reached a tentative agreement and suspended their strike! The agreement includes wage increases, increased time off and the rejection of a “management rights” clause.