Adler Planetarium workers vote to unionize

Workers at the Alder Planetarium voted to unionize on Thursday.

The union will form with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 and represent 70 employees responsible for every aspect of the institution’s operations, union officials said in a statement.

Adler workers followed in the steps of employees who have formed unions at the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Museum of Science & Industry and others.

The museum employees are unionizing during what museums say is a perilous time, as about a third of U.S. museums have lost government grants or contracts.

Launched in 2020, AFSCME’s Cultural Workers United organizing campaign currently represents 50,000 cultural workers nationwide. In the last four years, it has helped 2,500 Illinois cultural workers form unions at such sites as the Art Institute of Chicago, Field Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, Shedd Aquarium and Newberry Library.

Contributing: Erica Thompson

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