Obama Foundation Workers Seek to Unionize, Citing Benefits and Conditions

Employees at the Obama Foundation are initiating efforts to unionize, citing concerns over diminished benefits, inadequate workplace support, and significant staff turnover since the opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.

In a letter signed by numerous employees, the workers expressed that increasing workloads, reduced benefits, and a perceived lack of leadership support have led to a high rate of experienced staff departures. This exodus, they argue, has resulted in remaining employees struggling to manage their responsibilities and has diminished institutional knowledge within the foundation.

The organizing committee, which is collaborating with American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, is aiming to form Obama Workers United. The group has urged foundation leadership to respect their right to organize and to avoid interference in the unionization process.

"We urge senior leadership to honor our legal right to form a union and not waste resources on anti-union messaging, anti-union lawyers, or anti-union meetings," the workers stated in their letter. They referenced a 2016 letter from former President Obama where he encouraged union membership, stating, "If I were looking for a good job that lets me build some security for my family, I’d join a union. If I saw a problem in my workplace, I’d organize my coworkers to do something about it."

The proposed union would encompass over 250 employees across the foundation's Chicago campus, its Washington D.C. offices, and remote workers nationwide.

Recent reports indicated that Obama Foundation CEO Valerie Jarrett earned $740,000 in 2024, while the organization's total salaries and benefits increased from $18.5 million in 2018 to $43.7 million in 2024. This comes amidst the employees' concerns about their own benefits and workload.

The Obama Foundation has stated its support for employees' right to organize. A spokesperson told the Daily Mail, "We are deeply committed to the fundamental right of workers to organize and make their voices heard. As members of our staff explore union representation, we approach this process with immense gratitude for their contributions, deep respect for unions, and a sincere commitment to working collaboratively with our partners in labor."