Staff at Obama's Chicago presidential center plan to unionize

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 8 Oct, 20:43 · Archive

Employees at Barack Obama's presidential center in Chicago are organizing a union over benefit cuts and increasing workloads.

Employees at the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago have announced their intention to unionize, citing workplace grievances. A letter circulated to staff this week outlined complaints including increasing workloads, halted raises and promotions, increased healthcare costs and reduced paid time off.

The New York Post reports that the centre, which opened in June, has already experienced a high turnover rate, with departing staff taking 'institutional knowledge and expertise' with them. Workers said they had received 'vague responses' from administrators to complaints they had raised earlier.

The unionizers cited President Obama's own 2016 endorsement of unions in their letter, quoting him saying: 'If I were looking for a good job that lets me build some security for my family, I'd join a union.' The Obama Foundation, which financed construction of the $900 million centre, saw revenue fall from $210 million in 2024 to $159 million, according to the New York Post's account of tax documents.

How it is being reported

• Workers at Obama’s ‘Death Star’ presidential library strike back, vow to unionize over benefit cuts, ‘increasing workloads’Employees at the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago are unionizing over their working conditions.New York Post · 8 Oct, 20:23
• Embarrassing blow for Barack Obama as workers at his 'death star' presidential center are already so fed up they're leaving in droves... as stern letter is releasedStaff at Obama's presidential center in Chicago said in a letter to colleagues this week that they were organizing a union due to the institute's 'increasing workloads' and benefit rollbacks.Daily Mail · 8 Oct, 17:22

In this story: Barack Obama · Obama Presidential Center · Chicago · Obama Foundation

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