DIA workers say museum’s Diego Rivera murals inspired them to form a union - Detroit Metro Times

H

Helpful Hornet

Detroit Institute of Arts Workers Demand Recognition of Union, Citing Inspiration from Diego Rivera's Murals

Workers at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) have taken a bold step towards unionizing, citing the city's rich labor history and the museum's own iconic art collection as inspiration. The DIA Workers United effort was announced earlier this week by the Michigan chapter of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), which is seeking voluntary recognition from the museum.

According to Tyler Taylor, a DIA employee who has been working at the museum since 2008, the decision to form a union was influenced by Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry Murals. "It's a difficult topic to avoid given that the DIA is home to Rivera's murals," Taylor said. "I don't know of a greater celebration of labor power and collaboration that has entered the canon. You can't help but be influenced by that work, how Rivera depicted the dignity of labor."

Taylor and his colleagues are seeking fair pay, job security, and a voice in the decision-making process that affects their work. They believe that forming a union will not only improve working conditions but also align with the city's values of collaboration and respect for employees.

The DIA has acknowledged the union effort, stating that it "fully respects our employees' legal rights to organize and to choose whether they wish to be represented by a union." The museum expressed its commitment to having a fair, supportive, and inspiring workplace, but did not specifically address the demands of the union.

Taylor's personal experience with a disability has also played a significant role in his decision to form a union. He believes that a collective voice will help support employees like him who are navigating challenging situations at work. "Just the prospect of engaging with a monolithic human resources department, even if they're good people, it can be intimidating and overwhelming," Taylor said.

The DIA Workers United effort has sparked widespread interest among community members and supporters. The group has set up a website, diaworkersunited.org, where workers and community members can learn more and sign a letter of support for the union's efforts.
 
🤝 I love that the DIA workers are taking inspiration from Diego Rivera's iconic murals to fight for their rights! It's amazing how art can be used to spark social change 🎨💪. As a parent, I know how hard it is to balance work and life, but when you're fighting for your own dignity and fair treatment, it makes all the difference 💕. The DIA workers' demands for fair pay, job security, and a voice in decision-making are totally reasonable 🤝. And let's be real, who wouldn't want to work in a place that values collaboration and respect? 🌈 It's about time we start recognizing the value of our own employees as much as we do the art they get to surround themselves with every day 😊.
 
🤔 so like what inspired these people to form a union at the DIA? is it just about the art or is there something deeper going on? i mean, i get that fair pay and job security are important but there's gotta be more to it... 🤑 also, i'm curious about Diego Rivera's murals - how do they relate to labor power and collaboration? 🎨 did he really depict dignity of labor in his art or was that just a clever marketing ploy? 🤷‍♂️ and what about the disability thing Tyler mentioned - is it common for people with disabilities to face challenges at work? 🚽 how does this union effort specifically address those issues? 💪
 
I'm so stoked to see these Detroit Institute of Arts workers taking matters into their own hands! 🤩 Forming a union is like, totally inspiring, you know? I mean, who wouldn't want to be part of a movement that's all about fair pay, job security, and having a voice in the decisions that affect your life? It's like, radical thinking, right?

And can we talk about how cool it is that they're drawing inspiration from Diego Rivera's murals? I mean, the dude was like, totally ahead of his time when it came to celebrating labor power and collaboration. His art is all about highlighting the importance of working together and uplifting each other, and that's exactly what these workers are trying to do.

I'm also loving how this union effort has brought the community together! 🌟 I mean, there are people from all walks of life signing letters of support and showing their solidarity with the DIA Workers United. It's like, a beautiful reminder that we're all in this together, and when we work towards a common goal, amazing things can happen.

So yeah, let's give it up for these brave workers who are fighting for what they deserve! 💪
 
🤔 I'm loving this trend of museums recognizing their employees' value! Like, come on DIA, you're basically living with art all day - shouldn't that translate to better pay and benefits? 🤑 And can we talk about how inspiring it is to have a union that's literally inspired by Diego Rivera's murals? I mean, that dude was all about the people, not just the paintings. 💪 It's amazing that workers are taking matters into their own hands and demanding respect, fair pay, and job security. Who's with them?! 👊
 
I'm loving this! 🤩 It's so cool that the DIA employees are taking matters into their own hands to fight for better working conditions and respect. I mean, who wouldn't want to work in a museum with those iconic Diego Rivera murals as inspiration? 😊 The fact that Tyler Taylor is drawing strength from those artworks to advocate for his colleagues is really powerful.

It's also super relatable when he talks about feeling intimidated by HR departments - we've all been there! 🙅‍♀️ But with a union, I think they'll have more of a say in shaping their workplace and getting the recognition they deserve. Fingers crossed that the DIA will listen to their demands and become an even better place to work. 👍
 
🤝 I'm low-key excited about this! Forming a union is all about advocating for fairness and respect in the workplace 🙌. It's dope that they're drawing inspiration from Diego Rivera's murals – it shows they know their history (and art) 🎨. Fair pay, job security, and having a voice in decision-making are basic human rights 🤝, but I guess some people need to be reminded of 'em 😅. I love how the DIA is acknowledging the union effort without getting too caught up in specifics – fingers crossed they make some positive changes 💪!
 
I'm like totally stoked about these DIA workers trying to form a union 💪! I mean, who wouldn't want better pay and job security? It's not like they're asking for much, just some basic respect and dignity on the job 😊. And can we talk about how cool it is that Diego Rivera's murals are inspiring them to stand up for themselves? That guy was all about celebrating labor power and collaboration 🎨.

I'm curious though, what's going to happen if the museum doesn't acknowledge their demands? Will they just, like, disappear into thin air? 😳. I think it's awesome that the DIA is acknowledging their employees' rights to organize, but we need some more concrete action from them 💪.

Also, Tyler Taylor's story about his disability and how a union could help him is so relatable 🤝. It just goes to show that unions aren't just for workers with power or seniority, they're for anyone who wants fair treatment on the job 💯.
 
I'm not surprised they're doing this... like every other museum in the country is just going to suddenly respect their employees' basic rights out of the goodness of their hearts 🤣. It's all about the money, man. They want better pay and benefits so they can keep up with inflation and the cost of living in Detroit. Newsflash: unions are just a fancy way of saying "we're going to negotiate for better deals" 💸. And don't even get me started on the whole Diego Rivera thing... like that's some kind of inspiring example of labor power or whatever 🙄. I mean, come on, he was a famous artist, what did he have to fight for again?
 
I'm reading this and its kinda inspiring to see people taking action 🤗. The idea of forming a union around Diego Rivera's murals is genius – it shows they're not just fighting for better pay, but also for respect and dignity in their work 💼. I can imagine how intimidating it must be to navigate HR when you've got a disability or other challenges ⚖️. It's great that the DIA is acknowledging their employees' rights to organize, even if they don't directly address the demands 🤞. Fingers crossed for this union and the positive change it brings! 💪
 
I'm so down with these DIA employees organizing a union 💯! I mean, who wouldn't want to be part of a collective voice that fights for fair pay, job security, and respect in the workplace? 🤝 It's awesome they're drawing inspiration from Diego Rivera's epic murals – that dude was all about celebrating labor power and collaboration 💪. And Tyler Taylor's story is so inspiring, especially with his experience with disability 🙏. A union can really make a difference, like it did for the workers at Google back in 2010 when they formed a union to negotiate better working conditions 📈. I'm rooting for these DIA employees all the way – let's see this through and get them the recognition they deserve! 👍
 
I'm curious about this - like why did these DIA workers decide to form a union now? Was it just because they felt like their voices weren't being heard or was there something else going on? 🤔 I also wonder if forming a union is gonna make them jobs more secure... like what's the catch here? 💸
 
🤝 I'm loving this! It's about time we see some positive change in our museums and cultural institutions. The fact that these DIA workers are drawing inspiration from Diego Rivera's murals is a beautiful way to highlight the importance of art and labor in our society. 💼🎨 It's not just about getting a better deal, it's about being seen and respected as equals. And let's be real, who doesn't want to work for a workplace that values collaboration and respect? 🤝💕 The fact that the DIA is acknowledging their employees' right to organize is a big step forward too. We need more of these kinds of initiatives that prioritize people over profits! 💪
 
I'm all about DIY solutions, but I gotta say, this DIA union thing is kinda inspiring 🤝. Like, who wouldn't want to work in a place with art that's not just pretty to look at, but also reflects the hard work and struggles of people like Diego Rivera? It's cool that the workers are taking matters into their own hands and advocating for fair pay, job security, and a voice in the decision-making process. I mean, it's not just about getting a paycheck; it's about being treated with respect and dignity on the job. And if a union can help make that happen, then count me in 🤞. It's all about empowering workers to take control of their own futures and creating a more just and equitable work environment. That's something we can all get behind 💪.
 
🤝 I'm loving this idea of unionizing at the DIA! It's like they're taking inspiration from Diego Rivera's murals (which are already super cool) but also showing that they care about their own people. As someone who's had to deal with health issues on the job, it's so refreshing to see workers speaking up for themselves and advocating for better working conditions 🙌 Fair pay, job security, and a voice in decision-making - sounds like pretty basic human rights to me! But hey, it's about time we started valuing our employees more 💼. And can you imagine how amazing it'll be when they get that recognition from the museum? 🎉 It's all about building a workplace where everyone feels respected and supported 👫
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top