I was director in a municipal museum system where some of the staff
(exhibits, registrar, program coordinators, interpretive specialist)
were in the union for city workers, the International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers (IBEW).  We and the union were constantly trying to
force-fit what the museum staff did into the traditional concept of a
union job.  Try comparing the responsibility of determining learning
objectives for an exhibit with that of operating a backhoe!

In addition, the museum employees in the union were always comparing
their pay to the other union workers and realizing that they were
underpaid.  The museum staff, for the most part, did not enjoy being
lumped in with electrical workers, and found that they had nothing in
common with other union members.

At least once a year I tried to negotiate to have some of the
upper-level positions exempted, with varying degrees of success.
However, my grounds crew, attendants and the like were happy in the
union.

A caveat: the alternative for the staff not in the union was the regular
city benefits package which was very similar to the union's.

Roxana Adams, Coordinator
Technical Information Service
American Association of Museums
1575 Eye Street, NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC  20005
202/289-9121, fax 202/289-6578
email:  [log in to unmask]