Late Thursday night, March 4, unionized guards at the Philadelphia Museum of Art were shocked to learn that their shop steward, Walter Lunsford, had been fired. After six years of protecting the Museum with a perfect employment record, Lunsford was let go one week after having accompanied his co-worker and fellow shop steward, Nate Alston, to a meeting to question Alston’s recent termination.<\/p>\n
The security guards at the Museum, represented by the Philadelphia Security Officers Union (PSOU), organized a rally on last Friday evening. The purpose of the rally was to call attention to the suspicious nature of the firings of their fellow members by AlliedBarton, the company that the Philadelphia Museum of Art subcontracts to employ the guards. <\/p>\n
The union contacted the media, city council, and PSOU supporters. Minutes before he was scheduled to speak at the rally, which was held at the Museum and attended by dozens of community activists, Walter Lunsford received a call from AlliedBarton, offering him his job back.<\/p>\n
\u201cI went to the rally ready to speak out about the dangers we face,\u201d Lunsford remarked, \u201cand instead I got to declare victory. I am proud to stand here with these folks who mobilized immediately in the name of justice.\u201d<\/p>\n
The union is still trying to start negotiations after they won their election on October 10, 2009 by 60% to 40%. AlliedBarton appealed the results to the National Labor Relations Board (NRLB). The NRLB threw out the companies protests in January. The company has filed another round of appeals.<\/p>\n