AFSCME CWU

50,000 Workers Strong!

We're celebrating a new milestone this year. Fifty thousand workers at museums, libraries, zoos and other cultural institutions have won a voice on the job by forming a union with AFSCME — more than any other union.  

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Strong cultural institutions equal strong communities. Our mission is to share art and culture with the public – we deserve respect and dignity at work. AFSCME Cultural Workers United fights for fair wages and benefits, job security and safe workplaces free from discrimination. Learn more from AFSCME library, museum and zoo workers about the difference our union has made in our lives, our workplaces and our communities.

Recent Victories

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

We are cultural workers across the country organizing for a voice in our profession and a seat at the table to advocate for ourselves, our workplaces and our communities.

WHY FORM YOUR UNION?

We decided to organize our union for better transparency, less top-down decision making, better wages and a voice in our workplace. It was about respect and equity at the museum.

OUR JOBS OUR COMMUNITY

Cultural institutions have a responsibility to represent the communities they serve. Through our union, we’re able to hold leadership accountable and make sure everyone’s voice matters.

IT STARTS WITH A CONVERSATION

Once we started talking about forming our union, we realized we had a lot of shared concerns. Together, we wanted to see things change and it was through our union that we realized our collective agency.

Garrett Stralnic

Garrett Stralnic – AFSCME Council 3, Maryland

“Happy Anniversary CWU! As a founding campaign of the CWU movement, we fought relentlessly for a union that includes all of us. Museum management tried to divide us, but we proved we are stronger together! We now have a contract that..."
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Ryan Morris

Ryan Morris – AFSCME Council 3, Maryland

“I’m so proud to be a part of the union that won our right to collective bargaining through the legislature. And I am so proud of the contract we achieved together. Our union fought to..."
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Djenn

Djenn Schneck - Philly CWU Local 397 Chapter Chair

“Being able to watch people come together in solidarity with each other and fight for what we deserve was a unique experience that I'm grateful to have been a part of. I think that cultural work at its foundation..."
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