Marleigh Flowers, bartender, and Drake De Valcourt, security officer, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss their efforts to unionize Meow Wolf Workers Collective in Houston with CWA Local 7055. They shared insights on the challenges of organizing in Texas, the importance of union representation in the service industry and the role of community support in their campaign.
Organizing in Texas presents unique challenges, but Meow Wolf Workers are determined to secure better working conditions. Flowers, coming from a union family background, highlighted the stark contrast between her previous experiences in the service industry and the opportunity to improve her workplace through unionization. De Valcourt, initially skeptical of unions due to his upbringing, shared how his perspective changed after witnessing the benefits of union representation firsthand during his time as a security officer in Baltimore.
The Meow Wolf Workers Collective is part of a larger unionization effort across multiple Meow Wolf locations. With five locations already unionized or in the process, the Houston workers are leveraging the experiences and contract language from other sites to strengthen their own campaign. The organizers emphasized the importance of online community support, given Meow Wolf's strong internet presence and concern for public image.
CWA Local 7055 has provided crucial support to the Meow Wolf Workers, offering guidance on legal matters and negotiation strategies. The union's experience has been invaluable in navigating the complexities of organizing, especially for workers new to the process. Despite facing anti-union messaging throughout their lives, the organizers recognize the potential for unions to create safer, fairer workplaces and are committed to securing these benefits for current and future Meow Wolf employees.
Listen to the full episode to hear more about the Meow Wolf Workers' unionization efforts in Houston.
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