Barack Obama’s presidential center is facing a fresh round of internal turmoil just months after opening, as workers move to unionize and raise concerns about turnover, heavier workloads and cuts to benefits.
Employees at the Obama Foundation and Obama Presidential Center announced this week that they are organizing with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31.
In an open letter signed by 68 workers, employees said their concerns have often been met with what they described as “vague responses” from leadership.
They also pointed to what they called a “high turnover rate,” saying employees have continued leaving the organization and taking valuable institutional knowledge with them.
The union has not released an exact number of workers who have quit since the Chicago campus opened in June.
Still, organizers say frustration has been building over compensation, health care costs, paid time off and opportunities for advancement.
Workers were recently told they would not receive pay raises this winter, according to union organizers.
At the same time, they say health care costs are increasing, paid time off is being reduced and promotions remain frozen.
Luke Gilday, an Obama Foundation employee and member of the organizing committee, said workers want a greater role in decisions that directly affect their jobs.
“What we’re hoping for, and really the reason why we’re forming our union, is just because we believe we should have a say in the decisions that are being made that impact all of our lives,” Gilday said.
He added that employees currently “don’t even have a seat at the table.”
The organizing effort comes less than four months after the Obama Presidential Center opened to the public in Chicago.
The project had already faced criticism before its opening over rising costs, its design and the lengthy construction process.
Some contractors also complained publicly before the opening about unpaid invoices connected to work on the center.
Now, the labor dispute is putting the organization’s own workplace practices under greater scrutiny.
The situation is especially notable because Obama has long publicly supported organized labor.
Employees involved in the union campaign pointed directly to that history.
Their letter quoted a message Obama shared during the 2016 election encouraging workers to organize when they believed workplace conditions needed improvement.
“If I were looking for a good job that lets me build some security for my family, I’d join a union,” Obama said in the quote.
“If I saw a problem in my workplace, I’d organize my coworkers to do something about it.”
The proposed union, called Obama Workers United, is expected to represent more than 250 employees.
Those workers are spread across the presidential center campus in Chicago, the foundation’s Washington, D.C., offices and remote positions around the country.
AFSCME Council 31 spokesman Anders Lindall said organizers are already circulating union cards among employees.
“Generally everybody wants a voice,” Lindall said.
“That extends to compensation and conditions in the workplace and more.”
Gilday emphasized that workers are not trying to undermine the Obama Foundation or its mission, per Trending Politics.
Instead, he framed the union drive as consistent with the values the organization says it represents.
“Mr. and Mrs. Obama’s legacy is one of hope. It’s one of fairness, and it’s one of transparency,” Gilday said.
“By forming our union, all we’re doing is living out that legacy.”
The Obama Foundation responded by saying it supports employees’ right to organize.
“We are deeply committed to the fundamental right of workers to organize and make their voices heard,” the foundation said.
“As members of our staff explore union representation, we approach this process with immense gratitude for their contributions, deep respect for unions, and a sincere commitment to working collaboratively with our partners in labor.”
The union campaign now puts a spotlight on working conditions inside the institution built to preserve and promote Obama’s legacy.
With employees publicly raising concerns about pay, benefits, turnover and workplace influence, the foundation is facing pressure to address the same kinds of labor issues Obama has repeatedly spoken about during his political career.
