BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Buffalo AKG Workers United announced that about 70 workers at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum voted Thursday to unionize by a vote of 36-28 with four challenged ballots.
According to the union, workers in the visitor experience associate department, facilities, and food and beverage are included in the union.
“We are so excited to have won our union! We are looking forward to strengthening the museum in collaboration with leadership and making the AKG a democratic workplace."
“We hope that our union represents all AKG workers — regardless of if they were for or not for the union — this is a new chapter for our team."
7 News spoke to some workers earlier this month who were crying foul saying their efforts to unionize were being thwarted and announced they filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board.
READ MORE: ‘They're stalling the election’: Buffalo AKG Art Museum workers fight to unionize
Now, the union is calling on the AKG to end its relationship with law firm Jackson Lewis which the union says is "notorious union-busting" and bargain a fair contract without delay.
“There is no reason for contract negotiations to take more than a few weeks or months if the museum is serious about bargaining. We hope that this new relationship between the AKG and our union will become a model for what a collaborative and mutually beneficial partnership can look like."
7 News reached out to the museum for comment, we received the following statement:
“Following the union election yesterday, overseen by the NLRB, a majority of eligible voters in our Facilities, Food & Beverage, and Visitor Experience departments have determined to be represented by Workers United. The final tally was 36-28. We appreciate our team's engagement with this process and their participation in today’s election to make their voices heard. We respect the outcome of the election and are committed to bargaining in good faith with the Union. The Buffalo AKG has long cultivated a collaborative work environment and has taken many steps to ensure that the museum is a welcoming and supportive place to work. We remain steadfast in that vision and look forward to the work ahead."
