Obama Foundation Employees Move to Unionize Over Benefits and Working Conditions

<p>Employees at the Obama Foundation are seeking to unionize, citing concerns over reduced benefits, workplace issues, and high staff turnover, according to a letter reviewed by Fox News Digital. The workers are forming a group called Obama Workers United and are urging leadership to respect their right to organize.</p><p>In the letter, signed by numerous employees, they reported that increasing workloads, diminished benefits, and insufficient support from management have contributed to a high turnover rate at the foundation, which operates the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.</p><p>The letter states, "Amidst increasing workloads we have seen our benefits rolled back and support from leadership to be minimal. When we voice concerns we are met with vague responses, leading to uncertainty about our future with the foundation."</p><p>Employees expressed that departing colleagues have taken valuable institutional knowledge with them, leaving remaining staff struggling to manage their responsibilities.</p><p>The complaints from employees come after reports that Obama Foundation CEO Valerie Jarrett earned $740,000 in 2024, while the organization's total salaries and benefits increased from $18.5 million in 2018 to $43.7 million in 2024. The foundation defended its executive compensation, stating that salaries reflect competitive market rates for similar nonprofit organizations.</p><p>The organizing committee, in collaboration with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, has requested that foundation leadership refrain from interfering with the unionization effort. The letter states, "We urge senior leadership to honor our legal right to form a union and not waste resources on anti-union messaging, anti-union lawyers, or anti-union meetings."</p><p>The workers referenced a 2016 letter from former President Obama, in which he encouraged Americans to join unions, stating, "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."</p><p>The proposed union would represent over 250 employees across the foundation's Chicago campus, Washington, D.C. offices, and remote positions nationwide, according to the Daily Mail. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Obama Foundation for comment regarding the employees' concerns and whether it plans to voluntarily recognize the union.</p><p>The Obama Foundation stated that it supports employees' right to organize, expressing a commitment to working collaboratively with labor partners.</p>