Employees at the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago are moving to unionize, citing worsening working conditions just four months after the center opened in June. Workers say their benefits have been reduced while their workloads continue to grow.
In a letter circulated among staff Wednesday, employees announced their plans to organize. They pointed to heavier workloads and what they described as “vague responses” from administrators to a list of workplace concerns, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Some of the grievances have also raised questions about the financial health of the $900 million presidential center, which has only recently opened its doors.
The workers said the unresolved issues have contributed to a “high turnover rate,” with departing employees taking valuable institutional knowledge and expertise with them.
The letter cited the recent suspension of raises and promotions, higher health care costs and reduced paid time off as among the employees’ primary concerns. It remains unclear how significant four months of lost “institutional knowledge” has been to the center’s operations.
Organizers also invoked former President Barack Obama’s own strong support for labor unions, including comments he made in 2016.
“If I were looking for a good job that lets me build some security for my family, I’d join a union. If I saw a problem in my workplace, I’d organize my coworkers to do something about it,” the employees’ letter quoted Obama as saying.
The Obama Foundation, which financed construction of the center, reported $1.1 million in assets last year. Tax documents show that its revenue declined from $210 million in 2024 to $159 million.
