Museum Workers Secure Fair Contract After 550-Day Negotiation Battle

Stabilizing the Workforce in a Challenging Industry

At the Science Museum of Minnesota, employees have taken a significant step toward combating the challenges of high turnover and instability by forming a union. This collective effort has led to the establishment of a groundbreaking contract aimed at securing a more stable working environment.

Jennings Mergenthal, who has served as a community engagement specialist at the museum for over three years, highlighted the difficulties faced by employees in such volatile workplaces. "I have been at the museum for about 3 ½ years, and I have more seniority than over half of the bargaining unit," Jennings stated. He further explained that prior to the new contract, employees often had to seek new positions within the museum or leave and return in order to secure a pay raise. This approach was unsustainable for workforce development.

The new contract introduces assured pay raises tied to seniority, a significant change for many museum staff members who previously lacked such guarantees. Additionally, the agreement allows part-time employees to access benefits and ensures that all workers have defined job protections.

"This contract is a path to stability," Jennings remarked. "If you’re in your job for a year, you get a raise. If you’re in your job for three years, you get a raise. There’s a pool of professional development money. There’s even a temperature threshold now that determines when it’s unsafe to work outside. These are real, concrete wins that will improve people’s lives."

Moreover, Jennings emphasized that the contract has fostered new relationships among staff members, contributing to a sense of solidarity that was previously missing. "Before this, I only really knew the people in my department. Now, I see co-workers in the hallway and I know their names, their job titles, and how long they’ve worked here. We have relationships that didn’t exist before, and that’s powerful. That’s what solidarity is all about."

A Long and Determined Journey to Success

The journey to secure the contract was arduous, involving 309 hours of negotiations over 550 days. Jennings humorously compared this duration to the time needed to walk from St. Paul to Denver, Colorado, or to binge-watch every episode of "The Simpsons." Despite facing resistance at every negotiation stage, museum workers emerged victorious.

"Management fought us at every turn," Jennings recalled. "But after 550 days, we won. Not just any contract — we won a fair contract. A contract that ensures a better future for museum workers and raises the standard for cultural institutions across the country."