Workers at the Jewish Museum of Maryland have voted unanimously to join Teamsters Local 355, marking the latest in a series of union drives at cultural institutions across the state.
The union announced Friday that all 12 staff members—representing every department at the Baltimore-based museum—opted to unionize in a move aimed at securing job protections and improving workplace conditions.
“We are looking forward to representing our newest members,” said Mark Garey, president of Local 355. “This shows that workers in all crafts and classes are seeking the benefits and protections of a strong Teamsters contract.”
The museum workers join a growing list of cultural sector employees turning to organized labor. In the past year, Teamsters have unionized workers at the Glenstone Museum in Potomac and the Baltimore Museum of Industry.
Noah Mitchel, performance and events manager at the Jewish Museum of Maryland, said the small size of the staff didn’t deter their efforts.
“Even though we are a small workplace, we are thrilled that this powerful union is going to bat for us,” said Mitchel.
Teamsters Local 355 represents more than 5,000 workers across Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware in both public and private sector roles, including those at UPS, DHL, and BWI Airport. The union said its growing cultural portfolio reflects a broader trend of organizing across industries once considered less traditional union strongholds.
