Kennedy Center staff to vote to unionize amid Trump changes and ongoing uncertainty
Source: CBS News
Updated on: May 16, 2025 / 2:58 PM EDT
Staff employees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. announced this week an intent to unionize across departments and argue for collective bargaining rights. The effort comes amid months of layoffs and job uncertainty following major changes brought on by the Trump administration.
According to multiple staff members who spoke to CBS News on the condition of anonymity, more than 150 employees that handle crucial responsibilities for the Kennedy Center — including education, donor relations, and arts programming — are sounding the alarm that the mission and legacy of the storied arts institution are at risk unless a sense of normalcy is returned to everyday operations.
"We are the ones that put the artists in the classrooms and on the stages," one Kennedy Center education staff member told CBS News. After multiple departments have been shuttered completely, the staff member said she is hoping unionization will restore a sense of security for those remaining, as well as improve transparency and communication from leadership, which she says has been lacking.
"We're trying to carry out the work the best we can. But anxiety and fear exist with so many departments experiencing layoffs," she said. "And they happen quickly, with very little notice."
Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kennedy-center-staff-vote-unionize-trump-changes/