Storm King Art Center employees are seeking to unionize, but received some pushback from management. Now both sides are waiting for the results of an election through the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
“We want our voices to be heard,” said Amber Bowen, who works in the visitor services department. “We all love working there. We want to make it a sustainable place to keep working.”
Two months ago, the SKAC Workers Union Organizing Committee delivered a letter to president John Stern requesting voluntary recognition of the union.
“Voluntary recognition is the most straightforward way of forming a union and avoids what can be a lengthy election process,” said Jessica Ladlee, communications specialist with the CSEA southern region office. “The following day, Storm King’s in-house counsel denied the request for voluntary recognition, opting for an election through the National Labor Relations Board. Storm King retained a New York City-based law firm, Klein, Zelman, Rothermel, Jacobs & Schess LLP.
That firm’s specialties include “union avoidance”.
With regard to the NLRB hearing, Ladlee said management is seeking to limit the size of the potential bargaining unit by pushing for certain job titles to be eliminated from union eligibility.
The NLRB decision is expected to address that request as well as likely determine an election date.
Bowen added management has claimed employees who work in visitor services or as museum store clerks are considered to be guards and shouldn’t be part of the union. The committee is trying to bargain for about 86 employees.
“Storm King supports the right of our colleagues to join a union if they feel that is the best choice,” an art center spokesperson said. “We do not wish to assume that all staff who are eligible to join the union want to do so, therefore we believe that the fairest way forward is for all eligible staff to have the opportunity to vote on the matter.”
The organizing committee members have different reasons why unionizing is important to them, but among the top reasons are a need for fair wages and benefits for all workers, a greater focus on workplace safety and health, stable schedules, and a voice on the job.
“For visitor services, we don’t get time off,” Bowen said. “We’re required to work holidays and don’t get holiday pay. We don’t have health benefits, dental, or vision. The only time off we get is mandated by New York State – one hour per 30 hours worked. For full time staff, they want minimum shift laws and not be required to come in just for an hour, especially since some drive an hour to get to work.”
A spokesperson for the art center said management is looking forward to continuing a discussion with employees to address their concerns.
“Storm King is working with the Civil Service Employees Association Local 1000 and the NLRB to determine the staff election process; the NLRB’s decisions will determine next steps. We continue to encourage open dialogue as we proceed, and want to ensure our colleagues feel supported when they have questions or wish to learn more.”
CSEA Local 1000 is the largest affiliate of AFSCME (the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees), which represents over 1.6 million workers across the country, said Ladlee. The SKAC Workers Union Organizing Committee is part of AFSCME’s Cultural Workers United coalition.
Employees are currently awaiting the outcome of the NLRB hearing which may ultimately determine an election date. In the meantime, leadership continues to be encouraged to agree to voluntary recognition. Ladlee points out other museums have successfully formed unions such as the Academy Foundation Workers Union in California, and much closer to the Hudson Valley, the leadership of the Whitney Museum of Art in Manhattan offered voluntary recognition last year.
“The bottom line is that the workers at Storm King are passionate about the arts and their work, but they still need the fair wages and other benefits other working people enjoy,” Ladlee said. “A major number of workers either have arts-related college degrees or are currently working toward degrees. They love the art center, especially on days when they welcome students from school districts for educational programs.”
