Employees at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) voted to unionize, joining hundreds of thousands of federal workers who have joined AFGE to build power and have a voice at work.
IMLS is a small federal agency that supports the work of museums and libraries around the country. The union election took place Nov. 2 and AFGE won with more than 70% support. Of the 35 people in the bargaining unit, 22 voted for union representation, none against, and two votes were voided because the outside envelope was not signed.
The unit will be represented by AFGE Local 3403, which is already representing employees at the National Science Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and US Geological Survey.
“AFGE Local 3403 welcomes IMLS employees to AFGE and looks forward to collaborating with agency management in delivering excellence in public service,” said Local 3403 President Dr. David Verardo after the election.
IMLS employees are thrilled to be a part of AFGE.
“We are thrilled to be joining AFGE Local 3403 in which our colleagues at the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Science Foundation are also a part,” said Reagan Moore. “It was important to IMLS staff to unite with other cultural, grant-making agencies. We also look forward to further strengthening an already dynamic federal workplace.”
“An empowered workforce is a cornerstone of democracy, and art, literature, and education are vital to maintaining an engaged citizenry,” said Madison Bolls. “This milestone is a recognition of the value of our work at IMLS. We're glad to see our colleagues show dedication to continually making IMLS an equitable and inclusive place to work, and further contribute to our mission.”
IMLS employees reached out to our union to help with unionization as they wanted their voice to be heard. AFGE credits President Biden’s executive orders urging agencies to support unionization at federal agencies.
“We are seeing a renewed wave of interest from federal employees eager to organize new unions at their agencies, really helped by the Biden Executive Orders urging agencies not to stand in the way of employees wanting union representation,” said Peter Winch, special assistant to District 14 national vice president, who organized the campaign which was done virtually.
“There is also a wave of new unions being organized at museums and libraries around the country,” he added. “IMLS employees contacted AFGE wanting to know how they could bring that same organizing drive to their agency, so that they could have a voice in reconstitution and remote work arrangements, and District 14 and Local 3403 were right there, ready to help make it happen!”
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