THE WEATHER.

>>> THIS PAST WEEKEND MANY WORKERS AT THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY VOTED THE UNIONIZE.

ACCORDING TO THE UNOFFICIAL RELEASED, NEARLY THREE QUARTERS OF EMPLOYEES WHO VOTED CAST A BALLOT IN FAVOR OF UNIONIZATION, SPURRED ON BY THE EFFECTS OF COVID-19.

THOSE HAVE INCLUDED SEVERAL LOCAL CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY.

AND WORKERS SAY THEY WANT THEIR PROTECTIONS TO MATCH THE PRESTIGE OF THE INSTITUTIONS WHERE THEY WORK.

>> WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO MAKE THE MUSEUM A BETTER PLACE.

>> Reporter: BUT MANAGER MARKIE LAUGHLIN SAYS PROWORKERS AT THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY HAVE BEEN CALLED BULLIES AND FACE HEAVY PRESSURE.

>> UPPER MANAGEMENT HAS STOPPED BY MY DESK UPWARDS OF FIVE TIMES A DAY SOMETIMES.

IT FEELS LIKE THERE'S UNDUE PRESSURE TO NOT SUPPORT MY COLLEAGUES.

>> Reporter: IN A STATEMENT, THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY SAYS, QUOTE, WE RESPECT AN EMPLOYEE'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE OR DECLINE UNION REPRESENTATION.

OUR PRIORITY IS TO CONTINUE BUILDING A POSITIVE CULTURE THAT BENEFITS THE GREATER CHICAGO COMMUNITY.

THE VOTE TO UNIONIZE IS THE LATEST IN A STRING OF MUSEUMS AND OTHER CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS IN CHICAGO, BEGINNING WITH THE ART INSTITUTE.

IT'S A BLEND OF ART AND SCIENCE BUT THE WORK ENVIRONMENT IS CHALLENGING.

>> THE VALUES WERE VERY ASPIRATIONAL.

MANAGEMENT SEEM TO COME FROM A PLACE WITH A DIFFERENT REALITY.

>> Reporter: THE ELECTION WAS CERTIFIED IN JANUARY 2022 AND THEY HAVE BEEN BARGAINING FOR MORE THAN A YEAR TO SEE GOOD BENEFITS AND WAGES FOR FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME EMPLOYEES.

>> OUR MANAGEMENT REPRESENTATIVES NEED TO COME ALONGSIDE AND REALLY COME TO THE TABLE IN A HEAD SPACE WHERE THEY WERE REALLY BARGAINING IN GOOD FAITH.

I THINK WE ARE GETTING CLOSER TO THAT.

>> Reporter: IN A STATEMENT, THE ART INSTITUTE SAYS QUOTE, WE ARE PLEASED WITH THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE, AND HAVE AGREEMENTS ON NEARLY ALL NONECONOMIC PROVISIONS AND HAVING DISCUSSION AROUND THE ECONOMIC PROPOSAL.

WE ARE OPTIMISTIC WE CAN REACH AN EQUITABLE AGREEMENT.

FIELD WORKERS HAD ELECTION RESULTS CERTIFIED IN MARCH.

ADRIAN WORKS IN THE COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT AND SAYS THE HIGH TURNOVER RATE ONE WAS REASON SHE BACKED THE UNIONIZATION EFFORT.

ORGANIZING HAS HELPED BRING TOGETHER WORKERS WHO WERE ONCE MORE SILOED.

>> PEOPLE HAVE VERY DIFFERENT ROLES FROM HOUSEKEEPING TO COLLECTIONS TO PR.

EVERYBODY IS VERY SKILLED BUT VERY SPECIFIC SKILLS, SO WE WANT TO BE SURE EVERYBODY IS HEARD AND WE CAN ADDRESS THE THINGS THAT AFFECT EVERYBODY.

>> Reporter: AND SOME SAY GREATER PROTECTIONS FOR WORKERS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS WILL ALSO BENEFIT THE VISITORS.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO GET THE INFORMAL EDUCATION FROM PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE THEM AGE WISE, BODY TYPE WISE.

WE HAVE LOTS OF GENDER NONCONFORMING FOLKS.

WE HAVE VISIBILITY, WHICH IS GREAT, BUT IT'S NOT ALWAYS IN A POSITIVE WAY.

WE ARE TRYING TO PROTECT