Seattle Art Museum Staff Seek Union Recognition

Uniting for a Stronger Voice: SAM Employees Demand Fairer Practices

A Collective Voice Emerges at the Seattle Art Museum

More than a hundred staff members at the Seattle Art Museum recently declared their intention to form a labor union. This move positions them within a larger national movement that has seen a significant rise in unionization efforts across art institutions over the past six years.

Founding Principles of Seattle Art Museum Workers United

The newly established union, known as Seattle Art Museum Workers United (SAMWU), will represent employees from over 20 departments, encompassing both visitor-facing and behind-the-scenes roles. In a formal communication to SAM director and CEO Scott Stulen, the union emphasized that their collective solidarity is driven by a desire to enhance working conditions in harmony with the museum's core values and mission.

Persistent Challenges Leading to Unionization

The letter to the museum's leadership highlighted critical issues such as unsustainable wages, inadequate health benefits, and a persistent pattern of top-down decision-making. These systemic problems, the union stated, have remained unresolved across multiple administrations.

Path Forward for Bargaining Unit Formation

The precise details of the bargaining unit are expected to be finalized in the coming months. Union organizers report overwhelming support from eligible staff members across various critical departments, including curatorial, visitor experience, education, and development. Notably, the museum's security staff, who previously formed an independent union named SAM VSO, will operate separately from this new initiative.

Lessons from Past Labor Negotiations

SAM VSO was established in May 2022 and, after two years of challenging negotiations marked by accusations of anti-union tactics against museum management, successfully secured a contract with SAM in late 2024. Their demands centered on improved retirement benefits, a wage structure based on seniority, and clearer pathways for career advancement.

Key Priorities for the New Union

The organizers of Seattle Art Museum Workers United (SAMWU) have outlined their primary bargaining objectives. These include advocating for fair and respectable wages, implementing just-cause protections, and introducing incentives to boost staff retention. Additionally, they aim to secure improved paid time off, healthcare provisions, and retirement benefits for all members.

Empowering Employees in Decision-Making

Drew Davis, an art handler at SAM and a member of SAMWU's organizing committee, articulated the group's overarching goal. He stated that the union is seeking to establish a meaningful voice in the museum's decision-making processes, emphasizing that employees directly experience the consequences of all institutional choices.

Addressing Post-Pandemic Impact and Staff Turnover

Davis recounted witnessing significant shifts at SAM both before and after the pandemic, including reductions in benefits and a high rate of staff turnover. He noted that between 2020 and 2025, many employees experienced substantial losses in retirement savings due to benefit cuts. This environment, he explained, leads to burnout and a migration of talent to more financially stable positions, placing an increased burden on remaining staff and eroding morale.

Growing Momentum for Museum Unionization

The push for unionization within art museums, cultural organizations, and art schools has intensified in the wake of the pandemic, which saw widespread layoffs. These organizing efforts consistently advocate for enhanced job security, better compensation, and more transparent opportunities for professional growth.

Formal Steps Towards Recognition

According to Davis, SAMWU formally filed a petition for an election with the National Labor Relations Board. However, they remain open to withdrawing this petition if SAM's leadership opts for voluntary recognition of the union before the specified deadline of May 27. SAMWU has affiliated with the Washington Federation of State Employees/AFSCME Council 28, an organization that also represents workers at other local art institutions, including the Tacoma Art Museum.

Precedent Set by Security Staff

The museum's independent security officer union, SAM VSO, began its organizing efforts in 2021 and successfully reached a contract agreement after a 12-day strike. Marcela Soto-Ramirez, a co-representative for SAM VSO, previously articulated their philosophy during the strike, stating that a full-time job should adequately cover basic needs such as housing, food, and health, including mental well-being.

Commitment to Art and Community

Amidst the ongoing unionization drive, Davis reiterated the employees' belief in the transformative power of art and the vital role the museum plays in the region. He emphasized that while no one enters the art museum field for financial gain, workers deserve to earn a living wage that allows them to reside in the city where the institution they contribute to is located.