First contract for AFSCME members who keep the Chicago History Museum running
AFSCME members who work for the Chicago History Museum voted overwhelmingly last month to approve their first union contract, which includes higher wages, better benefits, improved paid leave, and more.
They are members of Chicago History Museum Workers United/Council 31 and they voted 96% in favor of ratifying the agreement, which takes effect immediately.
It’s a huge win for CHM workers, who formed their union with AFSCME last year.
“Chicago History Museum employees are an inspiration,” said Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch, who’s also an AFSCME vice president. “Facing some of the worst anti-union retaliation we’ve seen, they stood strong and prevailed. Together in AFSCME, Chicago cultural workers are winning real gains and raising standards across a sector that long took them for granted.”
Among other things, the new CHM Workers United contract includes:
- Across-the-board pay increases of 3% per year, a $500 ratification bonus, longevity payments, and bilingual pay;
- A minimum wage floor of $20 an hour;
- Improved paid leave for all employees;
- No increase to the cost of health insurance coverage;
- Increase in the employer’s contribution to the 401(k) retirement plan;
- A fair grievance and arbitration procedure for resolving problems on the job, as well as quarterly labor-management meetings.
In the last five years, AFSCME’s Cultural Workers United campaign has helped more than 50,000 cultural workers throughout the country – in museums, libraries, zoos and more – find a strong voice on the job.
Cultural workers across Chicago have been building power through AFSCME. Contract negotiations continue at Chicago’s renowned Shedd Aquarium, where last month 2,000 AFSCME members attending our union’s 47th International Convention rallied to call for an agreement with fair pay.
