TOLEDO, Ohio – Employees at the Toledo Museum of Art voted decisively, with 86% in favor, on April 9 to form their union, Art Workers United, through AFSCME Ohio Council 8.
This landmark development represents a powerful step forward for working people at the museum, who seek greater transparency, fair treatment and a say in workplace decisions.
Museum workers — including educators, curators, visitor services staff, technicians and research personnel — launched their organizing campaign earlier this year. They came together out of concern for job security, equitable wages and better working conditions. Workers emphasized that major decisions affecting their workplace should be made with their direct input.
"The time to raise our voices is now," said Skye Sloane, a Vision Services team leader and a union organizer. “The Toledo Museum of Art is building and remodeling key sections of the museum in a multimillion-dollar capital project. As employees, we want to make sure there is transparency and an opportunity for employees to have a formal way to make their voices heard. As dedicated cultural workers, we have invested in the museum's success and want equal footing."
Nate Coryell, who works in preservation at the museum, highlighted practical reasons behind the effort to form Art Workers United.
"As cultural workers, we don’t live in a bubble,” said Coryell. “The cost of living is increasing, as is the cost of health care and other basic necessities. I don't just want things to happen to me. I want to work with my co-workers to find equitable solutions."
For Chuchen Song, a glass studio specialist, the union is also about strengthening connections and building solidarity among museum staff.
“TMA talks about how the administration can be more supportive to employees and community,” said Song. “As an employee, l believe our union not only provides protection but also brings a positive impact to our community because workers always look out for each other.”
Workers will soon elect union representatives and begin negotiations with museum management. Key issues include fair wages, improved benefits, enhanced job stability, and a respectful work environment. Workers at prominent cultural institutions in Ohio, including the Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus Museum of Art, and Gateway Film Center, have already formed unions through Council 8.
The successful union vote at the Toledo Museum of Art mirrors a broader trend. AFSCME Cultural Workers United is leading the largest organizing movement for cultural workers across the country. We represent 45,000 cultural workers at museums, zoos, libraries and other cultural institutions, more than any other union.