Detroit Institute of Arts Workers Seek Union Recognition, Inspired by Diego Rivera's Labor-Themed Murals
In a move that reflects the city's rich labor history, workers at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) are seeking union recognition, citing the museum's iconic Diego Rivera murals as a source of inspiration. The DIA Workers United initiative, announced earlier this year, has sparked a debate about worker rights and the role of art in shaping cultural identity.
According to Tyler Taylor, an education department employee who started at the DIA in 2008, the murals have been a topic of discussion among workers since he joined the museum. "It's a difficult topic to avoid given that the DIA is home to Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry Murals," Taylor says. "I don't know of a greater celebration of labor power and collaboration that has entered the canon." The murals, which depict the struggles and triumphs of workers in the automotive industry, are seen as a powerful symbol of labor's impact on society.
The DIA Workers United group is seeking fair pay, job security, and a voice in decision-making processes that affect their work. Taylor believes that recognizing the union would be a positive step for the museum, reflecting its commitment to collaboration and respecting employee rights. "We think this would be a powerful and positive signal, one that I would say would be truly in the spirit of the city," he says.
Taylor's own experience with disability has also influenced his desire for union recognition. He notes that working in a monolithic human resources department can be intimidating, but having a union would provide support and security. "You always feel more secure when you're supported by your colleagues and you're working in concert toward a shared goal," he says.
The DIA has acknowledged the union effort, stating its commitment to creating a fair, supportive, and inspiring workplace. Workers and community members can learn more about the initiative and show their support at diaworkersunited.org.
In a move that reflects the city's rich labor history, workers at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) are seeking union recognition, citing the museum's iconic Diego Rivera murals as a source of inspiration. The DIA Workers United initiative, announced earlier this year, has sparked a debate about worker rights and the role of art in shaping cultural identity.
According to Tyler Taylor, an education department employee who started at the DIA in 2008, the murals have been a topic of discussion among workers since he joined the museum. "It's a difficult topic to avoid given that the DIA is home to Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry Murals," Taylor says. "I don't know of a greater celebration of labor power and collaboration that has entered the canon." The murals, which depict the struggles and triumphs of workers in the automotive industry, are seen as a powerful symbol of labor's impact on society.
The DIA Workers United group is seeking fair pay, job security, and a voice in decision-making processes that affect their work. Taylor believes that recognizing the union would be a positive step for the museum, reflecting its commitment to collaboration and respecting employee rights. "We think this would be a powerful and positive signal, one that I would say would be truly in the spirit of the city," he says.
Taylor's own experience with disability has also influenced his desire for union recognition. He notes that working in a monolithic human resources department can be intimidating, but having a union would provide support and security. "You always feel more secure when you're supported by your colleagues and you're working in concert toward a shared goal," he says.
The DIA has acknowledged the union effort, stating its commitment to creating a fair, supportive, and inspiring workplace. Workers and community members can learn more about the initiative and show their support at diaworkersunited.org.
gotta love this move by the DIA workers! Those Diego Rivera murals are like, totally iconic & I'm sure they're giving these guys some serious inspiration for their fight 
. It's all about respectin' each other's rights & workin' together towards a common goal, you know? Fair pay, job security, and having a voice in decision makin' processes... it's like, basic human decency, right? 
I'm rootin' for these guys! It's gonna be awesome to see the DIA become an even more inclusive & supportive workplace 
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. It's crazy that they're not already having a say in how their work is managed 
. Fair pay, job security, and being heard by the people who actually care about the museum are all basic human rights 
. I'm loving the idea of the union providing support and solidarity for employees like Tyler 
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having a union would make such a difference for workers like tyler taylor who's been with the dia since 2008... his story about feeling intimidated by the human resources department is so relatable 
i'm hoping this initiative inspires other workplaces to prioritize employee rights and create an inspiring work environment 
. The Diego Rivera murals are such an iconic part of Detroit's history and culture, it's only natural that they'd be a source of inspiration for the DIA workers. Fair pay, job security, and a voice in decision-making - these are all things we can get behind 
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. It's clear that they value their employees' contributions and want to create an inspiring environment where everyone can thrive 
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they wanna recognize the power of labor & collaboration like diego rivera's murals 
diaworkersunited.org is where u can learn more & show support 
! The workers at the DIA are speaking truth to power and advocating for themselves in a really cool way 
️. It's great that they're using those murals as inspiration to fight for fair pay, job security, and a voice in decision-making processes. I can totally get on board with that 
. I'm all about positivity and good vibes, so this just makes me happy 
!
. Fair pay and job security are pretty basic, but I guess you can't always take these things for granted 
i mean, it's no surprise they're a huge part of labor history but to see them sparking a movement for fair pay and job security at the detroit institute of arts is amazing 
I've been thinking, if we look at the whole US labor force, there are over 140 million employees, but only like 10% of them belong to a union 
. And it's kinda ironic that Diego Rivera's murals were created back in the 30s when unions were super powerful, now they're fighting for the same rights today 
. The DIA Workers United initiative is actually pretty inspiring, especially with how Taylor's personal experience with disability has influenced his desire for union recognition 
I've been following this story since it broke out and I gotta say, the DIA's murals are SO iconic - have you seen them?! They're like, a total representation of the struggle is real vibe. I'm all about supporting workers' rights, especially when it comes to disability advocacy 
what do you guys think I should try?
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they're straight up inspired by Diego's labor-themed murals and are fighting for fair pay & job security