An Update on Our Request for Voluntary Recognition

We are here with an update on the MOHAI Workers United campaign.

Two days ago, September 8th, was our deadline for our request for voluntary recognition by our employer. In the Seattle Times, our Executive Director, Leonard Garfield commented that MOHAI leadership is “committed to an open, honest process.” Despite the sentiments he shared publicly, our voluntary recognition deadline came and went with no word from Garfield.

By failing to embrace voluntary recognition, they have chosen to force us into an election. A secret ballot election is redundant and unnecessary when over 70% of eligible MOHAI workers have publicly signed authorization cards to establish our union. We hoped that our supermajority of employee support, together with the strong support we have received from our community, would make clear what MOHAI’s stakeholders believe is best for the institution. Unfortunately, that was not enough for MOHAI leadership to voluntarily recognize MWU. While their choice is disappointing, we are ready to win our election.

We are currently in the process of negotiating a stipulated election agreement with MOHAI’s legal team. Our hope is that this will facilitate a faster election and avoid a lengthy and expensive NLRB hearing process. Through this,, we have learned that MOHAI management is attempting to exclude nearly half of the positions we seek to represent. The impact of this would be to diminish our strength as a unit and divide staff. However, we are seeking wall-to-wall representation specifically because the issues we face (unsustainable wages, chronic understaffing, opaque top-down decision making, and low morale) are felt across all teams and roles at MOHAI. These challenges are what have led us to find solidarity and strength in one another.

As we advocate for our colleagues to be included in the bargaining unit, voluntary recognition remains the fastest and most cost-effective route to bargaining a fair contract.

We’re incredibly grateful to the over 360 community members who have signed our letter of support. Many have left comments with their signatures and they express some common themes that resonate with our motivations for unionizing:

• that union recognition shows fidelity with the museums stated core values

• that a union’s positive effect on staff will necessarily enrich visitor and community experience

• enthusiasm around patronizing a museum that commits to working with, and supporting, staff

How you can continue to support us as we as we shift into this next phase of our campaign:

• Continue to share our community letter, and encourage people to leave comments when they sign

• Help us amplify our message on social media and in your personal networks

• This is a quickly changing situation - sign up for email updates to stay informed on future actions