The Art Institute of Chicago faces backlash amid decision to outsource custodial staff
<p>Union workers at the Art Institute of Chicago are demanding the museum reverse its decision to outsource the entire custodial staff to a private contractor.</p><p>The cultural institution announced it will no longer employ 23 custodial workers on June 29, according to the union, Art Institute of Chicago Workers United. The employees’ last day is Aug.
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<p>Union workers at the Art Institute of Chicago are demanding the museum reverse its decision to outsource the entire custodial staff to a private contractor.</p><p>The cultural institution announced it will no longer employ 23 custodial workers on June 29, according to the union, Art Institute of Chicago Workers United. The employees’ last day is Aug. 14, but a museum spokesperson said they will have the opportunity to re-apply for their positions with the new company, GDI Integrated Facility Services, based in Canada.</p><p>“The Art Institute deeply values our employees and we are grateful for the important work our custodial team does every day,” the spokesperson said in an email to the Sun-Times. “We made the decision to shift our custodial services to a contractor model to better support daily museum operations, and we prioritized choosing a partner that would commit to offering employment to our custodial staff.”</p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center> <div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div> <ul class="RelatedList-items"> <li class="RelatedList-items-item"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/museums-zoos/2025/12/10/chicago-arts-culture-museum-union-organizing-labor-museum-science-adler-botanic-garden" >Workers at more Chicago cultural venues are unionizing, even during a precarious moment for museums</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p>Because their jobs aren’t guaranteed, the workers are concerned about their livelihood, said Ben Conboy, communications director for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, the union’s bargaining unit.
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- <p>Union workers at the Art Institute of Chicago are demanding the museum reverse its decision to outsource the entire custodial staff to a private contractor.</p><p>The cultural institution announced it will no longer employ 23 custodial workers on June 29, according to the union, Art Institute of Chicago Workers United. The employees’ last day is Aug.
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The Art Institute of Chicago faces backlash amid decision to outsource custodial staff
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