The Push for Union Cards
In Chicago, staff at the Obama Presidential Center are organizing to establish a union. They say their benefits have been cut while their workloads keep growing. This effort began just four months after the center opened its doors in June. A letter signed by dozens of employees details these complaints to their leadership. The group calls their new organization Obama Workers United.
According to Fox News, the workers are pointing out a sharp rise in costs for the foundation. From 2018 to 2024, combined compensation and benefits rose from $18.5 million to $43.7 million. Fox News Digital reported that CEO Valerie Jarrett earned $740,000 in 2024. These numbers stand in contrast to what the staff says they are facing. The letter claims that raises and promotions have stopped for many employees.
What the Workers Say
The employees wrote directly about their struggle in a public letter. They also noted that vague answers from bosses have left them unsure about their future. The group says this uncertainty is driving experienced staff to quit. The letter warns that these departures mean the organization is losing valuable skills.
As Breitbart reported, the letter states the foundation has a high turnover rate. The report notes that employees keep departing, carrying away their specialized knowledge and expertise. The New York Post noted that members of the union held signs outside the library building on Wednesday. They urged colleagues to sign union cards. The union aims to represent more than 250 people across the center, the Washington office, and remote workers.
Invoking Past Support
Council 31 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is assisting the organizing committee. They are using former President Barack Obama’s own past words to support their cause. In 2016, the former president spoke out in favor of unions. The workers feel his current silence or lack of action contradicts those earlier views. They want leadership to stop wasting money on anti-union efforts.
The group wrote that resources should not be squandered on anti-union meetings, lawyers, or messaging. They believe they are the ones truly fulfilling the foundation’s mission. One worker told the former president in June that she felt like she was living a dream.
The Demand for Change
The workers are asking for a change in how they are treated day to day. They want their voices heard regarding healthcare costs and paid time off. The letter invites all staff to join the push for better conditions. According to the union, they firmly support the mission to “inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world.” They added, “and now we’d like to change ours.”
Leadership has not yet issued a detailed public response to the specific claims in the letter. The workers say they are met with “vague responses” when they raise concerns. The organizing committee insists that the foundation must respect their legal rights. They argue that ignoring these requests will only cause more staff to leave. The situation remains active as more employees are expected to sign up.
