Gateway Film Center United Members Unanimously Ratify First Contract

After a unanimous vote, workers at Gateway Film Center in Columbus have now ratified their first union contract. This victory comes after Gateway Film Center United voted to form their union with AFSCME Ohio Council 8 in November 2024.

“This contract represents a huge win and delivers stability for our team that has been sorely needed,” said Ashby Daugherty who works as an Admissions and Membership Services Associate at the film center. Daugherty was also a member of the contract negotiations team and is the Recording Secretary for AFSCME Local 281. “With systems in place to allow employees to grow — reasonable annual wage increases, a path for part-timers to build to full-time employment — along with improvements to scheduling and training, we’ve made the Gateway a better place for us to work. I’m very excited about what we’ve managed to build together.” 

Among the wins that workers were able to negotiate were gains in regular and predictable scheduling, on-call pay for relevant positions, formal and impartial grievance procedures, paid and unpaid leave protections, work attire stipends, and more.   

These wins show the power that comes with being able to sit across from management and negotiate working conditions on the job. Workers at the Gateway Film Center are proud of the work they do, and this contract will help ensure that they can continue to provide quality services to the community.  

"I’m feeling extremely proud of the team for working towards this, and extremely optimistic for the future of the Film Center,” Daugherty continued. “This is our first contract, and it represents a great deal of dedication, patience, and solidarity from the entire local. This is one of the greatest teams I’ve had the pleasure to work with — people who deeply care about film, our patrons, and this incredible community we’ve all built together — and this agreement helps make sure we can retain these passionate folks. I’ve always hoped to leave the Gateway better than I found it — I was a patron of the Film Center for over a decade before I began working and the place means a great deal to me — and while I’m not leaving soon, I’m pleased to know that when I do, the union we’ve forged will still stand strong.” 

This first contract is a huge milestone for the newly organized workers and creates a strong foundation to ensure the Gateway Film Center remains a strong Ohio institution for years to come.  

AFSCME Ohio Council 8 currently represents cultural workers in museums, art centers, film centers and zoos across Ohio.