News/Commentary

Obama Center employees are already fed up with working conditions

October 9, 2026 | | Print Article

There’s trouble in paradise at the Obama Presidential Center after the ugly monument to the former president’s ego opened its doors just a few short months ago.

Employees at the Chicago eyesore have complained about working conditions, including “increasing workloads” and benefit cuts, as well as a “high turnover rate” at the center, which held its grand opening ceremony in June, a star-studded orgy of Obama worship.

The workers grew frustrated when their concerns were only met by “vague responses” from management and are now organizing a union, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

In a Wednesday letter distributed to employees, the Obama Workers United (OWU) airs its grievances with leadership, alleging that workers at the center “continue to leave, taking with them their institutional knowledge and expertise” and urging management to recognize the right to unionize and to “not waste resources on anti-union messaging, anti-union lawyers, or anti-union meetings.”

For good measure, the letter quotes the pro-union former president from a 2016 open letter to workers. “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,” Obama said.

The letter was signed by more than five dozen workers.

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“Every day we come together across departments and across the country to bring President and Mrs. Obama’s vision to life. We have faced many challenges while doing the unprecedented work of realizing that vision and, despite those difficulties, have worked hard to ensure success for our world-class institution,” they wrote.

“Amidst increasing workloads we have seen our benefits rolled back and support from leadership to be minimal,” the workers continued. “When we voice concerns we are met with vague responses, leading to uncertainty about our future with the foundation.“

“Due to this unsustainable work environment, many of our skilled, passionate colleagues continue to leave,taking with them their institutional knowledge and expertise. The high turnover rate has contributed further to our overwhelming workloads and as a consequence, we struggle to perform our duties at the high standard to which we expect,” the letter reads.

“What we’re hoping for, and really the reason why we’re forming our union, is just because we believe we should have a say in the decisions that are being made that impact all of our lives,” Obama Center employee and member of the union organizing committee Luke Gilday is quoted by the Chicago Sun-Times, telling the paper that the employees haven’t been given any input into pay, benefits and insurance.

“At the end of the day, we’re the ones who are facing those impacts, and we don’t even have a seat at the table,” Gilday said.

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X users shared their thoughts on the worker revolt.

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A grotesque eyesore reportedly costing in the neighborhood of $900 million, the Obama Presidential Center sticks up like a gigantic gray concrete turd in the heart of a historic Windy City park, with many expressing the opinion that it’s among the ugliest buildings in America.

Chris Donaldson
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