The History Of Our Union
After one intrepid museum employee contacted AFSCME, the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, a small but growing group of Art Institute of Chicago coworkers began talking about the potential of forming a union to advocate for a voice at the table, better wages and benefits, and safe and respectful working conditions. School of the Art Institute of Chicago staff began their campaign shortly after, and together, we won our unions and our first contracts—the rest is history. These are some of our foundational milestones.
August 3rd, 2021
Sixty museum employees sign a public letter announcing the intent to form our union, Art Institute of Chicago Workers United (AICWU).
Fall 2021
Over the next three months, our nascent unions grow stronger, reaching a majority of support from workers at the museum and school.
Educating colleagues about stereotypical anti-union rhetoric is essential to building the strength of our nascent union.
September 21, 2021
Museum and school staff, and other supporters come out to march for our right to form a union and to ask our employer for voluntary recognition.
November 2, 2021
We file petitions for our union elections with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
November 22, 2021
Backed by community leaders and officials, including Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Congressman Sean Casten, and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, we call on museum and school leadership to allow for a free and fair election.
December 8, 2021
The NLRB mails ballots to museum and school staff (and pets).
January 2022
Museum workers vote YES for our union with a resounding 142 yes to 44 no vote (20 ballots were uncounted). School staff also vote overwhelmingly for our union!
May 3, 2022
School and Museum staff begin bargaining for our first contracts.
May 10, 2022
Non-Tenure Track faculty write a public letter to announce their own campagn to form a union
Summer-Winter 2022
Museum and School Staff negotiate their first union contract. We work hard to show our bargaining teams, museum and school leadership, the strength of our union!
Contract pledges
Solidarity Days
October 29, 2022
Arts in the dark parade with our own lion puppet!
September 21, 2022
NTT Faculty demand recognition for their union!
December 21, 2022
NTT Faculty vote YES to join AICWU and AFSCME as their own union: Local 4888!
They start bargaining for their own contract in the new year.
July 31, 2023
The Musuem and School AICWU bargaining teams reach tentative contract agreements with leadership.
August 15, 2023
We voted to ratify our new contracts!
May 23, 2025
NTT Faculty ratify their first contract, uniting all three locals under the AICWU umbrella!
