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Minnesota Science Museum workers celebrate historic first contract

Photo credit: Science Museum of Minnesota Workers Union (AFSCME Council 5)
Minnesota Science Museum workers celebrate historic first contract
By Anthony Caldwell ·
Tags: Momentum Union Difference
Minnesota Science Museum workers celebrate historic first contract
Photo credit: Science Museum of Minnesota Workers Union (AFSCME Council 5)

Workers at the Science Museum of Minnesota just made history.

After more than 550 days of organizing, mobilizing and standing together, the dedicated employees of the St. Paul museum negotiated their first-ever union contract.

The workers, who formed Science Museum of Minnesota Workers Union through AFSCME Council 5, ratified the three-year contract on March 6.

It includes meaningful wage increases, new parental leave benefits and longevity pay that rewards years of service. For many workers, this victory marks the first time they’ve had any clear pathway for raises, job stability or protections from unfair treatment. It’s a testament to the power of workers coming together to demand respect and fairness on the job.

"One of the biggest wins for us was securing longevity steps in our pay structure," said Gretchen Haupt, an evaluation associate in the Department of Evaluation and Research Learning, who has worked at the museum for 13 years. "Management resisted this from the start, but workers knew we needed a pathway to progress through our pay grades that reflected the time and skills we’ve invested in the museum. This contract gives us that structure."

A contract that raises the bar

Through collective action, Science Museum workers won a contract that raises standards, strengthens job security and helps them better support their families.

For Haupt, the contract provides not only future raises but also long-overdue recognition of past service.

"We didn’t just win steps moving forward. We secured catch-up increases for long-time employees who have been stuck in the lower third of their pay band for years. For the first two years of this contract, I’ll be getting an additional 3% on top of my regular raises. That’s huge for me. It means I can finally visit family out-of-state more often without penny-pinching," Haupt  said.

Workers also secured a transparent and fair grievance process, a critical victory for ensuring job security and fair treatment.

Photo

Photo credit: Science Museum of Minnesota Workers Union (AFSCME Council 5)

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."

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