AMHERST — A union representing workers at museum, universities, publishing houses and nonprofits in New York and New England is petitioning the National Labor Relations Board to allow 36 full- and part-time workers at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art to vote on forming a union.
The petition from Local 2110 of the UAW, based in New York City, cites a need to improve wages, health and safety and job security for employees at the museum, located at the West Bay Road entrance to the Hampshire College campus.
Members of the union would include staff in collections, development, marketing, bookshop, education and guest services. The museum was founded by Eric and Barbara Carle in 2002.
Maida Rosenstein, director of organizing for Local 2110, said in a phone interview Monday that there has been a trend among museum workers to unionize as a way to achieve pay equity and stable work conditions, allowing more employees to remain on the job for longer periods of time.
“Staff have raised crucial concerns about safety issues, under-staffing and other conditions that interfere with our ability to do our jobs, but we are often brushed aside,” said Sarah Demarest, a guest services associate at the museum, in a statement. “Right now, without a union, we have no effective means of addressing our concerns. The museum needs to hear our viewpoint on these things and with a union, they will.”
Rosenstein said museum workplaces can provide difficult conditions due to the number of visitors.
“Visitorship is often underestimated as a health hazard,” Rosenstein said.
As one example, Rosenstein points to visitors accompanied by children and the need for intensive supervision. In one incident at the Carle, an employee was assaulted by a visitor and, even after recovering, had ongoing health conditions resulting from that interaction.
There can also be significant numbers of people inside the building, such as during the annual Very Hungry Caterpillar Day.
Rosenstein said front-facing staff are close to minimum wage. Many workers are also handling materials and chemicals and there is a general lack of promotional opportunities.
“We all care about the museum, but I want our hours and working conditions to be sustainable so that staff can continue doing the jobs that we love,” said Jessica Blasko, assistant retail manager. “We are dedicated to our work and proud of our collective contribution to the museum’s success. Unionizing is an important next step to ensure that our contribution is recognized and that the future of our work is protected.”
Rosenstein said in the last few years thousands of workers in art museums and other cultural institutions decide to unionize, including at the Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst and MassMoCA in North Adams, as well as at the Guggenhim and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
UAW Local 2110 recently got volunteer recognition at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston.
The petition to the National Labor Relations Board is required, even if volunteer recognition from the Carle happens.
Voice and email messages left at the museum were not immediately returned.
