Employees of The Union for Contemporary Art in North Omaha say five of their co-workers were fired just hours after they announced the formation of a union.
The nonprofit closed early Wednesday due to staffing shortages, with employees claiming the terminations were retaliatory.
Union Members Demand Recognition
The newly formed union, called the “Union Union,” represents 82% of the organization’s workforce. Union members said they emailed their executive director Tuesday, requesting official recognition to begin negotiations. Hours later, they claim, five employees were let go.
Jessica Freeman, a union member, said they formed the union to strengthen their voice in workplace decisions and create job security.
“We want to hopefully reinstate our coworkers who were let go. We’d also like to have a seat at the table in further decision-making and ensure the culture we worked hard to create remains in place,” Freeman said.
Nonprofit Denies Retaliation Claims
The Union for Contemporary Art’s executive director, Lakesha Green, released a statement saying the firings were part of a restructuring effort to maintain the organization’s sustainability.
“After careful evaluation, we made the difficult decision to restructure. Unfortunately, this meant some valued team members were impacted. This decision was not made lightly,” Green stated.
She denied any connection between the layoffs and the union’s formation, saying the restructuring process had been planned beforehand. The nonprofit is providing severance packages and extended health benefits to affected employees.
Despite the controversy, Green emphasized the organization’s commitment to its mission, stating, “We will continue to serve our North Omaha community with dedication and purpose.”
