Denver Art Museum Workers Ratify Historic Union Contract in Colorado

Historic Union Contract Ratified by Denver Art Museum Workers

The Denver Art Museum Workers United (DAMWU) has set a historical precedent as its members ratified the first union contract for museum workers in Colorado. This landmark agreement, finalized on Saturday, follows nearly two years of negotiations, marking a significant achievement in the state's cultural sector.

Formed through AFSCME Colorado in March 2024, DAMWU's bargaining committee worked diligently to secure a three-year agreement. The contract introduces equitable pay, just cause rights, increased sick leave, and strengthened health, safety, and parental leave policies.

The voting process saw a vibrant turnout with nearly half of the bargaining unit's staff participating on the first day. This enthusiastic involvement underscores the workers' support for and dedication to the terms of the agreement.

Senior paintings conservator Pam Skiles expressed her satisfaction with the ratification, stating, "It feels great to ratify our first contract and improve working conditions for our co-workers across the museum. We will only continue to build on these wins into the future."

Museum shop sales associate Rachel Brennan celebrated the collective achievement, remarking, “Winning this contract feels like a huge celebration! It took so much work to get to this point, and I’m so proud of us for fighting to have a voice in our workplace. I am beyond grateful to have such amazing coworkers who know their worth and show up for each other."

Despite facing considerable resistance from management during the unionizing process, DAMWU members persevered. For many, this contract symbolizes just the beginning of ongoing efforts to enhance worker rights and conditions.

Gallery host Sean Chase highlighted the significance of the contract, stating, “This has been a long time coming, and I think we are all feeling relieved to have finally ratified our first contract. We're in a much better position as workers at the DAM than we were before and feel confident that we can achieve even more with our second contract. We are the ones who keep the museum running, and we must never forget that.”

With this ratified agreement, DAMWU joins the ranks of the Jefferson County Public Library and over 50,000 cultural workers nationwide in the AFSCME’s Cultural Workers United campaign. This movement aims to uplift employment standards across the cultural sector.