COLUMBUS, Ohio – After a unanimous vote, workers at Gateway Film Center in Columbus ratified their first union contract this month. This victory comes after Gateway Film Center United (GFCU) voted to form their union with AFSCME Ohio Council 8 in November 2024.
“This contract represents a huge win and delivers stability for our team that has been sorely needed,” said Ashby Daugherty, an admissions and membership services associate and a member of the contract negotiations team for GFCU/AFSCME Local 281. “With systems in place to allow employees to grow — reasonable annual wage increases, a path for part-timers to build to full-time employment — along with improvements to scheduling and training, we’ve made the Gateway a better place for us to work. I’m very excited about what we’ve managed to build together.”
Among the wins that workers were able to negotiate were gains in regular and predictable scheduling, on-call pay for relevant positions, formal and impartial grievance procedures, paid and unpaid leave protections, work attire stipends, and more.
These wins show the power that comes with being able to sit across from management and negotiate working conditions on the job. Workers at the Gateway Film Center are proud of the work they do, and they say this contract will help ensure that they can continue to provide quality services to the community.
“This is our first contract, and it represents a great deal of dedication, patience, and solidarity from the entire local,” said Daugherty, who is also the recording secretary for GFCU/Local 281. “This is one of the greatest teams I’ve had the pleasure to work with — people who deeply care about film, our patrons, and this incredible community we’ve all built together — and this agreement helps make sure we can retain these passionate folks. I’ve always hoped to leave the Gateway better than I found it. … And while I’m not leaving soon, I’m pleased to know that when I do, the union we’ve forged will still stand strong.”
This first contract is a huge milestone for the newly organized workers and creates a strong foundation to ensure that the Gateway Film Center remains a strong Ohio institution for years to come.
AFSCME Ohio Council 8 represents cultural workers in museums, art centers, film centers and zoos across Ohio. More than 50,000 workers at such institutions throughout the United States have gained a voice on the job through the AFSCME Cultural Workers United campaign — the largest of its kind in the nation.