The employees of the George Eastman Museum have successfully unionized. The vote count was 41–16, with the final bargaining unit still being determined.
Danielle Raymo, the Communications Manager at the Museum told the Campus Times via email: “We appreciate our employees’ commitment to their work at the museum and their sincere desire to improve the museum for employees and others. Our focus will remain on supporting our staff and working together to fulfill the museum’s mission of preserving and sharing the art, history, technology, and science of photography and moving images and the legacy of George Eastman.” She noted that the Museum respected the vote, the collective bargaining process was still underway, and that they look forward to working with the union during that time.
Vivian Rivers, the museum’s community and volunteer liaison, expressed her excitement for the future of the museum, and is looking forward to working with the management of the Museum to make an environment where all employees are heard. According to Rivers, the next step is to bargain for a better contract, which would require surveying current employees to see what they want to be included.
