More than 100 workers at the Seattle Art Museum announced their organizing campaign in front of the museum on May 13th, joined by fellow museum workers and the broader labor community. According to SAM Workers United, the workers launched their union with supermajority support among SAM employees.
Workers are seeking voluntary recognition of their union and are giving SAM management until May 27 to respond to their request. Determined to win their union, workers have filed for a National Labor Relations Board election as well.
A variety of workplace concerns inspired workers to organize, including the need to improve wages and benefits, and strengthen job security. Workers also want to see greater transparency and accountability from leadership. These are not the first to organize at the Seattle Art Museum over working conditions; security officers formed the independent union SAM VSO in May of 2022, successfully striking for 12 days in late 2024 to restore retirement benefits.
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