Fighting for stability in a high-turnover industry

Jennings Mergenthal, a community engagement specialist, said forming a union helped workers fight back against the instability and high turnover that has plagued the museum.

“I have been at the museum for about 3 ½ years, and I have more seniority than over half of the bargaining unit,” Jennings said. “The museum has a turnover problem, like a lot of places do. The reality was that before this contract, your best shot at a raise was either to apply for a different job within the museum or leave and come back at a higher salary. That’s not a sustainable way to build a workforce.”

The contract establishes guaranteed pay increases based on seniority, something many museum employees have never had before. It also ensures that part-time workers can access benefits and that all workers have clear, enforceable job protections.

“This contract is a path to stability,” Jennings explained. “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.”

Jennings noted that the contract created new connections among workers in ways that management never could. “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.”

550 Days, 309 hours at the table — a fight worth having

The contract win did not come easily. Workers spent 309 hours in negotiations with management. Or, as Jennings put it, enough time to walk from St. Paul to Denver, Colorado, or to watch every episode of The Simpsons.

“Management fought us at every turn,” Jennings said. “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.”