Catherwood LibraryILR School

Another group of workers at the Portland Museum of Art in Maine have voted in favor of unionization. The first group of workers to unionize consisted of museum employees such as art curators and graphic designers, and the group that recently voted to unionize consisted of gallery ambassadors and security guards. Gallery ambassadors and security guards were originally included in the first group of unionized workers, but museum management determined that these specific workers were ineligible to be included, due to differences in job functions compared to museum employees. The National Labor Relations Board sided with the Portland Museum of Art regarding representation, stating that gallery ambassadors and security guards both enforced security rules at the museum, and gallery ambassadors could be considered as security guards as well. The second group voted to join the International Union, Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America, while the initial group was represented by the United Auto Workers union and the Technical, Office, and Professional Union. The first group of employees secured a union contract that significantly increased wages and improved employee benefits, and negotiations for a second contract will begin soon as the first contract is set to expire this year.