Obama Foundation workers launch union drive over pay and benefits

Workers at the Obama Foundation and the newly opened Obama Presidential Center have launched a public campaign to form a union, citing benefit rollbacks, rising workloads, and a lack of say in workplace decisions.

On Wednesday morning, an organising committee of 68 employees distributed an open letter to their colleagues, announcing their campaign to unionise with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 31. Calling themselves Obama Workers United, the group hopes to represent more than 250 workers across the foundation's operations.

This includes front-of-house staff like museum greeters and ticket sellers at the new Jackson Park campus in Chicago, alongside behind-the-scenes workers in exhibits, communications, and marketing. It also covers employees at the foundation's offices in Washington, D.C., and remote staff across the United States.

Why workers are organising

The push comes less than four months after the 19.3-acre presidential centre opened to the public in June. While the opening was a major milestone for the south side of Chicago, employees say the work environment has deteriorated quickly.

According to union organisers, staff recently learned they would receive no pay rises this winter. At the same time, their healthcare premiums are set to increase, paid time off has been reduced, and promotions have been suspended. The open letter also pointed to a high turnover rate, claiming that experienced workers are leaving because senior leadership has met their concerns with vague answers.

Luke Gilday, a foundation employee based in Washington, D.C. and a member of the organising committee, said staff feel shut out of critical decisions. "At the end of the day, we’re the ones who are facing those impacts, and we don’t even have a seat at the table," Gilday said.

Organisers are using Barack Obama's own history to make their case. Their open letter quotes directly from a message the former president wrote in 2016: "If I saw a problem in my workplace, I’d organize my coworkers to do something about it."

How the foundation responded

For its part, the Obama Foundation has taken a cooperative tone. A spokesperson said the organisation is "deeply committed to the fundamental right of workers to organize" and expressed gratitude for the staff's contributions.

AFSCME Council 31, which has recently led union drives at several other major Chicago museums, said it expects a smooth process. Anders Lindall, the union's public affairs director, said they "can't imagine" resistance from an organisation built on the Obamas' legacy of fairness and transparency.

The union is now gathering signed authorization cards from employees to seek formal, voluntary recognition from the foundation's leadership. On Wednesday morning, staff stood outside the Chicago presidential center from 7 a.m. to distribute buttons, stickers, and letters to colleagues arriving for their shifts.