Seattle Art Museum Workers Move to Unionize

More than 100 Seattle Art Museum (SAM) employees from departments including visitor experience, collections care, curatorial work, and education have announced plans to unionize under Seattle Art Museum Workers United (SAMWU). Affiliated with Washington Federation of State Employees/AFSCME Council 28, the group—representing workers across multiple SAM departments—sent a letter on May 13 to Director and CEO Scott Stulen and the museum board, demanding voluntary union recognition by May 27. The letter highlights systemic issues like unsustainable wages, inadequate health benefits, and a lack of transparency in decision-making, arguing that leadership changes alone cannot address these problems. Employees also called for replacing the current 'at-will' employment model with 'just-cause' job protections to prevent arbitrary terminations. SAMWU cited the success of the museum’s unionized security guards, who ended a 12-day strike in 2024 after securing a contract following over two years of negotiations. The group urged the museum to respect their right to organize without interference, including avoiding anti-union literature, legal tactics, or mandatory anti-union meetings. In response, Stulen confirmed the museum had received the letter and would review it, emphasizing its commitment to supporting employees' rights to advocate collectively. The union’s voluntary recognition would allow SAMWU to bypass formal National Labor Relations Board elections. However, SAMWU has not yet commented on further requests for updates from *Hyperallergic*. The push reflects a broader trend of labor organizing in the arts and culture sector nationwide.