GUARDS ASK TIMOTHY RUB FOR A DIALOGUE: Video Message To Incoming Museum Director Highlights Worker Hardships And Hopes

On Wednesday August 26th Jobs with Justice will screen a video they made jointly with the Media Mobilizing Project entitled Welcoming Change: A Message to Timothy Rub.  The screening will take place at 4205 Chestnut Street at 6:30 PM.

Philadelphia, PA-  A video being premiered tomorrow is part documentary and partly a direct message to Timothy Rub, the incoming director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  It also addresses the national debate about the Employee Free Choice Act.

The video entitled, “Welcoming Change: A Message To Timothy Rub” features the voice of four security guards who are a part of a campaign to win work-place reforms at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The director of Welcoming Change, David Randle says of the interviews that were filmed in parts of South West, North and West Philadelphia, “They are stories of hope.  I was impressed by that even thought they earn such low wages.”

Worker and activist Donald Lindsay talks about what we would like to say to the incoming director when he says, “we would get to talking about what his goals are and what our goals are.”

Welcoming Change also has its sad moments.  Moments that remind the viewer that poverty exists even among the opulence of the museum.

“It’s a sin in this country, that you work 40 hours a week and can never get your head above water.  You should be able to pay your bills…without borrowing from Peter to pay Paul.” Says Juanita Love in one of the videos sadder moments.

The security guards are trying to improve their wages from the current $10.03 per hour (or less for non-AlliedBarton guards) to $13.48 per hour. 

The video ends with a call to support the guards at the museum and the Employee Free Choice Act, a piece of legislation that would allow these guards at the museum to automatically be recognized as a union after a majority of workers had signed up for that option.

The documentary Welcoming Change will be screened at the Media Mobilizing Project office, 4205 Chestnut St on August 26 at 6:30 pm or can be watched online at www.phillyjwj.org starting August 26 at 9:00 am.

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