Staffers at L.A.’s Natural History Museum and La Brea Tar Pits Form Union

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Each year, over one million tourists and local residents from Southern California flock to the La Brea Tar Pits and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, marveling at prehistoric fossils and artifacts dating back centuries. Now, many of the staff members who interact with these visitors will be affiliated with a labor union.

A group of approximately 300 workers, ranging from performers to engineers to educators, have been officially acknowledged by the institution’s management, according to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Earlier voting results showed that around 70% of the collective bargaining group were in favor of joining AFSCME Cultural Workers United, Council 36. This union represents staff at various institutions, such as the Academy Museum, the Academy Foundation, and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Raquel Cornejo, one of our team members, expressed her immense pride in the union-building efforts we’ve collectively achieved as workers. She looks forward to initiating the contract negotiation phase promptly.

A representative from the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County (which encompasses the La Brea Tar Pits and the Natural History Museum) communicated in a statement that the unionization procedure has been “extremely collaborative on both ends.” They are eager to collaborate with the union during the upcoming stages of this process.

Following its announcement to the public on March 25th, the unionization effort picked up speed. This was evident in the immediate card count that took place on the following Wednesday, and the subsequent acknowledgement of the union’s formation by management on the same day.

From now on, the parties will start collaborating to draft an initial agreement. The union’s focus includes enhancing wages, benefits, safety conditions, transparency, diversity, accessibility, and job stability at their workplaces. In a letter penned on March 25, organizers expressed their conviction that decision-making authority should be distributed among all voices, not just a few – encompassing different departments and various roles within the institution.

As a gamer enthusiast speaking from my own experience, I can say that just like it takes a team to bring a game’s captivating world to life, it takes our entire team to create the enchanting experience at both the Natural History Museum and La Brea Tar Pits. Each one of us deserves a secure and eco-friendly environment to work in.

As a member of the vast community that is Cultural Workers United under the umbrella of AFSCME, I stand shoulder-to-shoulder with over 45,000 passionate individuals who work in libraries, museums, and zoos at esteemed institutions like the Art Institute of Chicago, Los Angeles Public Library, and New York Botanical Garden.

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2025-04-10 03:25