What have we accomplished as a union?
2021
- On December 15, 2020 we won our election and became the largest museum union in the country, with 79% of voters choosing “Yes”.
- Earned the rights of union membership, including but not limited to the right to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement, bargain over wages and working conditions, request union representation at investigatory interviews that may lead to discipline (Weingarten rights), request information from management through the union regarding issues in the workplace, and wear union buttons or other insignia at work.
- Formed a Contract Action Team (CAT), a volunteer network of our peers that shares information with the broader membership, serves as a resource for members who have questions or need support, relays issues to the Bargaining Committee to address directly with management, publishes our newsletters and social media, and plans meetings and special events.
- Elected a Bargaining Committee of our peers with representatives from all four Museums and the CMP central offices to negotiate a contract (“collective bargaining agreement”) with management on behalf of all UMW members.
- Distributed and participated in our bargaining survey that is shaping our collective bargaining agreement.
- Negotiated the first raise to the minimum wage in four years, along with one-time, pre-contract raises for certain positions and pay grades.
- Strengthened policies and procedures around health and safety concerns at the Museums, such as additional signage explaining our policies, stronger mask-wearing policies at events, and improved radio systems. As this is an ongoing, ever-changing issue, we continue to inform management about the concerns and needs of our workplace, and we encourage members to contact us so we can help get these issues addressed.
- Assisted with the reorganization of departments including ACE, AWM Education, CMOA Education, and CSC Outreach. These reorganizations have allowed for new positions to be created and existing positions to be updated with input from union members, and provided more uniformity of job duties and consistency in pay for similar positions across the Museums.
- Gained access for CMNH Interpreters to take part in virtual training and tours.
- Organized a virtual visibility day to celebrate Labor Day.
- Hosted our first-ever UMW potluck and celebrated our victory in-person for the first time!
- Coordinated a member appreciation day and rally for CMP’s Crash the Carnegies anniversary event in partnership with the United Library Workers. We distributed buttons, flyers, and over 20 dozen donuts to our union colleagues as well as friends in custodial, security, and ULW. We created a beautiful poster and conducted a series of speeches from UMW, ULW, USW, 32BJ, and the new Union of Pitt Faculty.
2022
- Negotiated multiple wage increases, including a 2.5% cost of living adjustment for 2022 - the highest such raise offered in over five years - and a third pre-contract wage increase for our lowest-paid workers.
- Finalized a new system for frontline staff members at all four museums to receive commissions for membership sales.
- Improved communications across our museums by convincing management to provide CMP email addresses for every worker in the bargaining unit.
- Demonstrated for a living wage at the opening of the Carnegie International, an iconic exhibition which was UNION-MADE.
- Negotiated a reorganization of The Andy Warhol Museum’s department of Learning and Public Engagement which resulted in substantial wage increases for part-time arts educators.
- Demonstrated at the screening of American Factory at the Carnegie Museum of Art as part of their Working Thought exhibition.
- Marched in our first ever Labor Day Parade!
- Supported our members and coworkers with snack breaks, happy hours, sticker and button days, and other actions of solidarity, as well as training and info sessions about Weingarten Rights, FMLA, ADA, and what it means to serve as a union steward.
- Engaged visitors and staff during the opening of Mars: the Next Giant Leap outside of the Carnegie Science Center.
- Stood in solidarity with workers across our city and industry, including members of the Pitt Faculty Union, the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, Starbucks Workers United, La Prima United, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art Union.
