The Seattle Art Museum has officially unionized following a landslide National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election. The new union, SAMWU, represents over 130 full- and part-time employees across its three locations.
Staff members first announced their intent to unionize in May, citing dissatisfaction with wages, at-will employment status, and limited healthcare benefits. In a letter to the museum’s Director and CEO, Scott Stulen, 59 workers asked for voluntary recognition of the union but were denied. This led to an election where 97 employees (94% of eligible voters) voted in support.
The union plans to negotiate sustainable wages and better health benefits while formalizing “just-cause” protections for workers currently with at-will employment status. In a statement, the museum accepted this democratic outcome but will still engage in negotiations with SAMWU leadership.
This comes after a year and a half since security guards secured a nearly $3 hourly raise through a 12-day strike. The union hopes to set a new standard for museum workers with their progressive collective bargaining agreement.
