Dozens of Denver Art Museum workers are planning to unionize in order to ensure that they can earn a living wage while also improving safety and transparency from management.
The majority of the museum’s roughly 250 eligible employees said Thursday morning that they’ll take part in the Denver Art Museum Workers United push, according to a statement posted at damworkersunited.org.
A letter circulated among workers said they will join the Denver-based American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 18. The move comes during an uptick in organizing “that is taking place across the country’s cultural sector,” according to a statement.
“I think it’s been a long time coming,” DAM gallery host Trudy Lovato told The Denver Post on Thursday. “It’s also just the social-economic state of the country. A lot of cultural unions are forming … and there’s a recognition that this culture of prestige doesn’t pay the rent or feed mouths.”
Training around safety issues has also been “unclear and sometimes does not even happen at all,” according to workers. They’re hoping the momentum they’re feeling will help usher in a smoother process for training and other issues.
“We’re in a very exciting place right now,” said Tei Iuga, a creative and public engagement associate at the museum. “The overwhelming majority of workers are signing cards and the (next step) is to be voluntarily recognized by management.”
Workers officially notified management of their intention to organize at an all-staff meeting Thursday morning, according to AFSCME.
“They intentionally chose Jan. 11 as the day to announce their union campaign in honor of labor history in Colorado and beyond,” AFSCME officials wrote. “This year marks the 110th anniversary of the Ludlow Massacre and Jan. 11, 1912, was the first day of the historic Lawrence Textile Mill Strike (also called the Bread & Roses Strike).”
A Denver Art Museum representative confirmed that they received a request Thursday morning for voluntary recognition of a union from “some members of its staff.”
“The museum is aware that unionization among museums has been occurring more frequently in the US and is open to working with its employees to explore the best path forward,” wrote communications manager Andy Sinclair. “If unionization is the path they choose, the museum will work within that system. …Â The Denver Art Museum prioritizes its employees and their needs and looks forward to learning more about the specific goals of the proposed unionization.”
Workers say if the museum truly respects their voices, management will follow through on addressing their concerns and recognize the union instead of forcing them to go through an election that would “draw out the process and waste taxpayer money.”
“Many colleagues have a connection with the community at large through the museum and through the art, and we do believe in the museum’s core values, a couple of which are inclusivity and respect,” Lovato said. “That’s helping to inform why we’re doing what we’re doing. It will make a better internal culture at the museum, and a better experience for the public.”
The last two years have seen a wave of creative and cultural workers rallying and forming unions, including the high-profile SAG-AFTRA and Writer’s Guild of America strikes, which ran for much of 2023. Locals includes a recently announced drive at Colorado’s Alamo Drafthouse Cinema locations, and previously, at the Mercury Cafe and Meow Wolf Denver.
