Meet your AIC Bargaining Committee!
Let’s get to know the members of the AICWU AIC Bargaining Team — chosen by you, their coworkers at the museum! Below, learn about what they do at AIC, why they love the museum and what their goals are for our first union contract. (Looking for the AICWU SAIC Bargaining Committee? Get to know them here!)
NANCY CHEN
Job Title: Educator, Learning and Public Engagement
How long have you worked at AIC? 2.5 years
What do you do? I organize and facilitate gallery programs for the public, with a focus on adult visitors. There are lots of things I love about my job ... especially spending loads of time in the galleries and being creative about how to engage museum visitors with artwork.
What’s one of your goals for the AICWU AIC Bargaining Committee? To bring a sense of stability, hope, and optimism to my department, which has been through the ringer (and still is going through it) since spring 2020.
KYLIE ESCUDERO
Job Title: Exhibitions Project Manager
How long have you worked at AIC? 3 years
What do you do? I help plan, organize, schedule, budget for, install, and deinstall temporary exhibitions alongside a slew of talented colleagues across the museum. With each new project and artist, there's so much room for learning and appreciation. I especially love walking through newly opened exhibitions for the first time and seeing the results of everyone's hard work!
What’s one of your goals for the AICWU AIC Bargaining Committee? Bringing staff voices to the negotiating table is key and I'm excited to develop and improve standards (relating to compensation, career progression, etc.) that are written down. Leadership accountability is also key!
JUNEER KIBRIA
Job Title: Project Manager, Capital Programs
How long have you worked at AIC? 9 years
What do you do? I manage and facilitate projects from small office requests to large-scale architectural space planning, construction, and permanent gallery installations. I also review and provide advice on accessibility initiatives.
The favorite thing about my job is the unique opportunity to know the structural guts of the institution and the labor from dedicated teams required to run it. I truly enjoy the adaptive and collaborative nature of the job, forming connections with people as each project provides unique challenges.
What’s one of your goals for the AICWU AIC Bargaining Committee? Throughout my time as a graduate student in SAIC and as a current staff at AIC, I’ve witnessed the imbalance of labor, value, and job expectations. I believe in labor ethics and equity, and I am excited to be a voice and be part of a dedicated team that can help shape / guide our work environment.
SHEILA MAJUMDAR
Job Title: Editor, Publishing
How long have you worked at AIC? 2 1/2 years
What do you do? I primarily edit and develop content for print and digital publications and exhibition texts. I really enjoy encountering new art and ideas and collaborating with others to hone and express their thoughts about art and culture.
What’s one of your goals for the AICWU AIC Bargaining Committee? This is an incredible opportunity to legally empower my colleagues and implement their ideas for creating a more equitable and sustainable workplace. Using our on-the-ground knowledge to influence institutional decision-making will transform the museum and our working lives for the better.
PABLA MARTINEZ
Job Title: Facilities Custodian
How long have you worked at AIC? Six years
What do you do? Maintain facilities, specifically restrooms, as clean as possible as frequent as possible. I take this responsibility serious because no one wants to be disgusted when they enter a restroom. I take pride in keeping my work areas clean.
What’s one of your goals for the AICWU AIC Bargaining Committee? Pay and benefits need to improve at such a world famous museum. We the employees are key in making sure everyone who visits leaves with a great impression. I'm excited to serve on the bargaining team because it's time the museum recognizes our value and shows us the respect we deserve by improving our wages and our benefits. We also deserve to be treated fairly when it comes to promotions. For example, I for one would like to see a female supervisor in my department.
HERB METZLER
Job Title: Technician, Packing Dept., Collections & Loans
How long have you worked at AIC? 12 years
What do you do? My job involves shipping and receiving of much of the artwork, for loans, exhibitions, and acquisition. I get to see and handle some incredible things.
What’s one of your goals for the AICWU AIC Bargaining Committee? I am looking forward to assisting in a collective effort to make the AIC a more employee-friendly environment, to restore the primacy of our stewardship of the world's cultural heritage, and to promoting and protecting the expertise and values of my colleagues, and future employees.
MARIA CRISTINA RIVERA RAMOS
Job Title: Assistant Conservator, Paper
How long have you worked at AIC? 5 years
What do you do? My job entails caring for the physicality of the works of art on paper in the collection. The best part is that I get to be in close contact with the art on a daily basis.
What’s one of your goals for the AICWU AIC Bargaining Committee? I hope that we can increase transparency and work together to foster a working environment that supports our institutional values.
KYLA THOMAS
Job Title: Manager of Distribution and Operations
How long have you worked at AIC? 3 years
What do you do? I work at the Goose Island warehouse and help with the shipments to and from our Museum Gift Shops, as well as sending out the web orders from our online shop, and taking in deliveries of goods.
What’s one of your goals for the AICWU AIC Bargaining Committee? I hope that my contribution can help foster a more positive work environment, be it through better pay, more inclusive work spaces and more.
JANN TRUJILLO
Job Title: Administrative Coordinator for Conservation & Science and Research Center
How long have you worked at AIC? Around 20 years.
What do you do? For Conservation and Science, I’m a go-to person that helps get things done. The best part is behind the scenes, seeing the art up close and in its natural state.
What’s one of your goals for the AICWU AIC Bargaining Committee? The Art Institute has to change, and I feel I share a part of the responsibility in finding solutions to help better this institution.
CHRISTINA WARZECHA
Job Title: Technician, Modern and Contemporary Art
How long have you worked at AIC? 1.5 years full-time in my current position; 2.5 years freelance as a Technician in the Installation Department
What do you do? I care for the Modern and Contemporary Art collection and gallery spaces, which requires a lot of creative problem solving, making every day unique. Whether I'm rehousing an object in storage, moving it to a conservation lab, or installing it in an exhibition, it is always special to be able to handle and safeguard such a prestigious collection.
What's one of your goals for the AICWU AIC Bargaining Committee? For a world renowned institution, the behind-the-scenes at the Museum does not function efficiently, safely, or sustainably, often at the detriment of the lowest paid employees. While it is a privilege to work at such a special place, my hope is that the Bargaining Committee can show Management that the greater privilege is theirs: having dedicated, expert employees that care enough to keep the Museum functioning, despite the bare minimum in compensation, labor force, and resources.
Also on the Bargaining Committee:
ESTHER ESPINO
KATRINA RUSH
SARA SHATAT
