I agree. I've worked for the museums in a variety of positions, volunteer, long term part time, occasional, full time, all in varying departments for over two decades now. The false promises that I've been told over the years and the mistreatment that I've witnessed or endured is why I am strongly in support of our efforts and will remain so.

I am not saying that CMP is in the right in anyway. I am acknowledging that we have entered a political negotiation and it's a long and painful process. I am here for the fight, but I am encountering a lot of folks that were expecting a fast an immediate change which is not entirely realistic, unfortunately.

It's a long process and we are being pushed back against in incredible and unreasonable ways. I am optimistic that this will make our workplace better especially for part time and front line staff, but it is a long process and I know folks are getting frustrated. Mostly I think that a lot of people deeply misunderstood or downplayed this process and how long, uncomfortable, and upsetting it would be. Setting up a new union is not at all like walking into a position with an established union. This is a plant a tree whose shade you may never sit in situation for a lot of our staff but when you're looking at possibly making the future better for employees of a place that has taken advantage for so long it feels very worth fighting.

Rachel Stratton at Salon Atmosphere in Dormont. She does pretty wonderful things with color as well!