Community support was the crucial link in helping the negotiating team of AFSCME Local 800 members succeed in reaching a landmark first contract with management at the Museum of Tolerance (MOT).
The Museum’s curriculum teaches social justice values but those values fell flat when it came to the center’s own workforce – many of whom were earning the minimum wage despite holding college degrees. Initially, management claimed there was no money to pay workers a decent wage, even though the senior administrators themselves earn hundreds of thousands of dollars each. However, once the employees activated a network of support and management began to receive letters from the community expressing dismay at the gulf between the Museum's stated mission and its treatment of its own employees, management came to the table with a better offer. Thanks to L.A. City Councilman Paul Koretz, California State Senator Ben Allen, the Jewish Labor Committee, Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Southern California, IATSE Local 871, Bet Tzedek Legal Services Union, AFSCME Local 946, AFSCME Retirees Chapter 36, Lilly Rivlin, and Prof. Irving Zeitlin, for sending support letters!
The newly-unionized membership ratified the agreement by a vote of more than 80 percent. “It has been an incredible journey for us as newly organized workers,” said Josie Cha, a bargaining team leader. “It is because we stood together and remained steadfast, and probably even more importantly, that the broader community and Local 800 stood alongside us, that we were able to win what we deserved all along.”
Local 800 President Charlie Orlowski said, “I’m proud that Local 800 supported the MOT workers from the beginning, including paying their legal fees during the NLRB election. The Executive Board also committed to fund an ad in the Jewish Journal to publicize their demands for a fair contract. Supporting workers organizing to improve their conditions at work is what Local 800 is all about!”
The final agreement includes almost three dozen new protections for MOT employees, in addition to meaningful wage increases. Key highlights include:
Increased wages for all employees with 6+ months of service, with an across-the-board +$1/hr upon ratification with further raises each subsequent July through 2021 for a total of +$5/hr increase over 3.25 years. Most MOT staff were making only the minimum wage before these new raises.
Part-time employees will begin receiving benefits such as paid holidays, paid vacation, and paid bereavement and jury duty leave. Most MOT employees are part time.
Increased sick leave accrual cap/ maximums for part-time employees, and provisions making sick leave easier to take for all employees
Just cause protection in case of discipline and discharge
A staff seniority system to assure greater equity
A Union Shop Steward system to help keep our members informed and protected
A formal grievance and binding arbitration procedure in cases of employee disputes with management
A Respect clause
A Safety & Security clause
Much needed staff break room with lockers to store personal items while working.
The new Local 800 members include the Floor Coordinators, Docent/Tour Guides, Youth Education Assistants, Cashiers, and Maintenance and Shipping staff.
The Local 800 Executive Board congratulates lead negotiator Aaron Pearl and his team: Norma S. Berneman, Sara Roberts, Richard Herlan, Jocelyn Cha, and Stephen Prevulsky.
