A union is a group of coworkers who come together to collectively improve their work lives. Our union, Bay Area Discovery Museum United, will give us a voice in important decisions that impact us. We are the union and together we can work to improve job security, working conditions, wages and benefits, transparency, and communication across the museum.

Non-supervisory employees including full-time, part-time, and on-call staff are eligible to be part of our union. This includes salaried, hourly, and grant-funded positions.

Union members enjoy job security and the ability to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that can include regular pay increases, improved medical coverage, increased paid time off, commuter stipends, and overall better working conditions. Through collective advocacy, and agreed-upon procedures for solving workplace issues, unions increase transparency and can address challenges in meaningful ways.

Yes! There are many staff unions at museums and non-profit organizations in the Bay Area and across the country. SEIU 1021 represents thousands of non-profit workers including museum unions at California Academy of Sciences, the Exploratorium, de Young Museum, Asian Art Museum, and the Legion of Honor.

No. Per the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) it is illegal to retaliate against anyone for forming or joining a union. Organizing at work and participating in union activities, including wearing a union shirt or button, is a fundamental and legally protected right. Signing a union authorization card or how you vote in a union election is kept confidential from management at all times.

Dues are 1.74% of base pay and we won’t start paying dues until we have successfully bargained and ratified our first union contract. Dues are the resources we pool together to ensure that we can negotiate and enforce strong contracts and maintain an active union.

No. Strikes are a powerful organizing tool and only used as a last resort. SEIU can never force us to go on strike—it’s up to us, and we would all decide whether or not to strike by a majority vote.