Seaport Museum Staff Unionize for Better Workplace and Museum Future

Philadelphia's Independence Seaport Museum Employees Unite Under New Union

In a significant development for cultural workers in Philadelphia, employees at the Independence Seaport Museum have successfully formed a union, marking a pivotal moment for workplace rights and collective action in the city's cultural sector.

Jacob Roman, a shipboard interpretation coordinator at the museum, expressed that forming a union is essential for building a secure and efficient work environment. “For many of us, the decision to unionize came from a shared need to build a more secure, more productive workplace,” Roman stated. “We care about the museum’s mission, and we’re excited to have the tools, protocol and staffing to do that work well.”

This spring, museum workers voted overwhelmingly to join AFSCME Local 397 (District Council 47), with nine out of ten eligible members supporting the initiative. This makes the Independence Seaport Museum the fifth cultural institution in the Philly Cultural Workers United network to unionize.

The unionization process, initiated in early April, quickly gained traction as employees shared their vision for a union during work breaks and informal discussions. Roman noted, “We didn’t need to convince people — most of us already believed in what we were doing. It was about keeping communications consistent, open and honest.”

Workers are hopeful that the newly formed union will tackle ongoing issues such as insufficient staffing, the need for improved safety measures on historic vessels, and wage increases that match the cost of living. Donovan Borger, a public engagement assistant, emphasized the commitment to the museum's future, stating, “We’re proud of the work we do and the stories we help tell. Forming a union is our way of establishing a commitment —not just between management and employees, but to the museum’s future.”

By joining the broader network of cultural workers citywide, the Seaport Museum's team aims to strengthen their collective influence. “We’re stronger together,” Borger added. “And ISM workers want to do their part in that fight.”

The union's next steps involve negotiating a contract to formalize these changes. Independence Seaport Museum workers are joining a growing number of AFSCME members nationwide who are organizing to assert their workplace rights.

AFSCME Cultural Workers United is at the forefront of the largest organizing movement for employees at cultural entities across the country, representing 45,000 workers, more than any other organization in this sector.