Campaign Updates

We announced our plans to unionize on April 30, 2021, and we have secured supermajority support for a union among our co-workers. Hundreds of community members have signed our support letter and we have even garnered the support of Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Baltimore City Council members and the Baltimore City Comptroller. However, The Walters Art Museum still refuses to agree to a union election that would include our co-workers across all departments. Despite this impasse, we will continue to seek a fair path toward union recognition for our wall-to-wall union.

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Walters Workers United Campaign Timeline:

Walters employees meet with the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to share why they formed WWU

Walters leadership and union-busting law firm Shawe Rosenthal begins meeting with museum supervisors.

Julia rejects another meeting with workers. WWU holds a rally for respect and recognition on August 12, 2021.

After the chemical exposure, urgency to form a union builds. Workers and community allies protest museum’s refusal to meet and determine a fair and inclusive path to unionization.

In October 14 informational hearing, WWU testifies before Baltimore City Council on Walters’ obstruction of collective bargaining rights.

Moved by workers’ testimonies, Baltimore City Council and Baltimore Comptroller send letters to museum leadership urging them to meet with workers and come to an election agreement.

Determined to move forward, an overwhelming majority of Walters employees sign a petition voicing support for a union election outside of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

Workers also extend an invitation to the museum’s Board of Trustees to meet and discuss the current state of WWU’s unionization efforts.

WAM hosts "An Evening at the Walters,” an annual gala fundraiser that attracts many of the museum’s top donors.

Workers leaflet outside of the museum and educate donors about the ongoing labor dispute with management.

A virtual hearing for WWU's MPIA lawsuit is held on November 30.

During the hearing, which was held through the Baltimore City Circuit Court, lawyers for Walters Workers United emphasized the importance of the MPIA in holding public institutions and entiti

Legislation supporting WWU's unionization is prefiled

On January 10, 2023, Maryland State Delegate Robbyn Lewis prefiles House Bill 116, legislation that would enable collective bargaining rights for Walters' workers.