Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see? Staff at the Eric Carle Museum have begun organizing a union. Workers shared the news on Instagram on August 3, citing allegations of understaffing, limited promotion opportunities, and poor workplace conditions at the Massachusetts museum founded by the beloved children’s book author and illustrator.
In their post, employees said they had filed for a full-time and part-time staff election with the National Labor Relations Board. “We call upon Museum leadership not to interfere with or delay a union vote,” the post reads. Represented by the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2110, the group said it wanted as many eligible staff members as possible to participate in the election.
Carle, the late children’s book artist best known for The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1969) and his collaboration with Bill Martin Jr. on Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (1967), founded the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in November 2002 with his wife, Barbara Carle. Since opening, the museum has drawn more than a million visitors to Amherst, Massachusetts, to view the author’s illustrations and signature tissue paper collages.
In recent weeks, however, a range of complaints has led museum staff to the point of seeking union representation. The workers’ move marks a significant moment for the institution as employees press for changes in the workplace.
