RICHMOND, Calif. – Workers at NIAD Art Center, a northern California institution that serves artists with disabilities, have formed a union.
The group of cultural workers and service providers organized as NIAD UNIDAD (NIADU) and are seeking representation through AFSCME Council 57.
The new union would cover approximately 35 workers across NIAD, short for the National Institute of Arts & Disabilities, and include teaching artists, direct service providers, administrative support staff, and others — many of whom serve in more than one of these roles.
According to a letter circulated by NIADU’s organizing committee, workers formed their union to advocate for adequate staffing, job security, livable wages, transparency and a voice in the center’s decision-making process.
Members of NIAD UNIDAD also believe that NIAD artists and their community are better served when staff work together and build a collaborative partnership with management to further their goals and values.
“As a cultural worker and educator, I believe that employees are worth receiving the same equity, care and rights that we extend to our community of artists,” said Ocean Escalanti, a studio facilitator and community programs associate at NIAD. “NIAD UNIDAD continues a legacy of progressive art studios coming together to usher in a new era for creative direct service providers.”
Matt Dostal, who performs facilities and administrative work at NIAD, added: “I support NIAD UNIDAD because I love the NIAD community and have seen firsthand the incredible transformative power of progressive art studios. I know that working collectively is the only way we can continue to grow, thrive and innovate."
After the workers delivered a letter of intent to unionize to NIAD Executive Director Amanda Eicher on Oct. 15, the organization’s leaders voted unanimously to recognize the workers union, according to San Francisco public broadcaster KQED.
NIAD workers are the latest to build power through AFSCME Cultural Workers United (CWU). Others include several cultural institutions in California such as the Oakland Museum of California and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.
CWU is a national movement of cultural workers at libraries, museums and zoos joining together to negotiate for better pay and working conditions, demand equity and fight for transparency in their workplaces. AFSCME represents more cultural workers than any other union, including 10,000 workers at 91 museums and more than 25,000 workers at 275 libraries.