WHEREAS:
Workers at libraries, museums, zoos and other cultural institutions enrich our communities by providing spaces of safety, learning and wonder for all who walk through their doors; and
WHEREAS:
Cultural workers are dedicated to serving members of the public who seek knowledge, ask questions and pursue inspiration. Cultural workers exhibit tremendous loyalty to their institutions and professions; and
WHEREAS:
In return for that dedication and loyalty, many institutions expect cultural workers to accept low pay, meager benefits and hazardous working conditions as a price they must pay for the privilege of working in this field; and
WHEREAS:
Public libraries depend on local tax revenues for 95% of their funding, which is needed to update and maintain infrastructure, retain skilled staff and keep the doors open to all, regardless of background; and
WHEREAS:
Politically motivated efforts to ban books in public libraries continued to grow in 2025, with more than 9 out of 10 censorship attempts coming from politicians or extremist activist groups. In response, state legislatures in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois and Rhode Island passed measures enshrining in state law the freedom to read; and
WHEREAS:
Cultural workers across the country have had enough of being underpaid, undervalued, mistreated and politicized, and are coming together in record numbers to demand better; and
WHEREAS:
AFSCME Cultural Workers United is leading the largest organizing movement for cultural workers across the country, representing over 50,000 workers at libraries, museums, zoos, botanic gardens and other cultural institutions, more than any other union in the United States; and
WHEREAS:
Through AFSCME Cultural Workers United local unions, members have won historic victories in their first contracts, achieving respect on the job in addition to higher pay, improved benefits, health and safety protections as well as language that protects their ability to advocate for their communities.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
AFSCME will continue to organize workers at libraries, museums, zoos and other cultural institutions across the country, both public and private, so that they can gain power in the workplace and improve their pay, benefits and working conditions; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That we call upon all established AFSCME locals within Cultural Workers United to provide guidance and mentorship to newly formed locals, share contract language appropriate for cultural workplaces and provide substantive support for accessing all of the resources and opportunities available through AFSCME; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That we call upon all AFSCME locals and affiliates to support the Cultural Workers United movement by identifying institutions in our communities whose employees would benefit from membership in our union; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
AFSCME will continue to advocate at the national, state and local levels for workplace protections for cultural workers so that every institution is a safe and supportive place to work; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
AFSCME will support candidates for office who advocate for robust funding for libraries and cultural institutions and who stand up for intellectual freedom in our cultural institutions. AFSCME will work to defeat candidates, ballot measures and legislation that seek to restrict library funding and censor the materials available to patrons; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
AFSCME will continue to be the union that fights for libraries, museums and other cultural institutions nationwide, by supporting robust funding and freedom from political interference, so that the missions of our cultural institutions can carry on for our communities now and in the future.
SUBMITTED BY:
Anna Sparlin, President and Delegate
Katy Conway, Secretary
AFSCME Local 527, Council 976
Colorado
Lisa Palombi, President and Delegate
Tamiko Boyd, Executive Vice President and Delegate
Chris Taylor, Executive Vice President and Delegate
AFSCME Local 2626, District Council 36
California