For Jacob Roman, a shipboard interpretation coordinator at the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia, launching a new union isn’t just a milestone — it’s a lifeline.
“For many of us, the decision to unionize came from a shared need to build a more secure, more productive workplace,” said Roman. “We care about the museum’s mission, and we’re excited to have the tools, protocol and staffing to do that work well.”
Earlier this spring, workers at the Seaport Museum came together to form a union through AFSCME Local 397 (District Council 47). Nine out of 10 eligible workers voted for a union. And it became the fifth represented museum in the Philly Cultural Workers United group.
The unionization campaign — announced in early April — gained momentum quickly thanks to strong support among eligible employees. Workers talked between tours, before and after shifts, and in moments throughout the day to discuss the difference a union could make.
“We didn’t need to convince people — most of us already believed in what we were doing,” said Roman. “It was about keeping communications consistent, open and honest.”
Many workers hope Independence Seaport Museum Workers United will help address long-standing challenges. That includes limited staffing, the need for safety improvements aboard historic ships, and pay raises that reflect the rising cost of living.
“We’re proud of the work we do and the stories we help tell,” said Donovan Borger, a public engagement assistant. “Forming a union is our way of establishing a commitment —not just between management and employees, but to the museum’s future.”
The Seaport Museum team joins a strong network of cultural workers across the city, united by their dedication to their communities and the power of their collective voice.
“We’re stronger together,” said Borger. “And ISM workers want to do their part in that fight.”
Next, the new union will begin the process of negotiating a contract.
Seaport Museum workers are among the many AFSCME members nationwide organizing and leveraging their powers to win a voice on the job.
AFSCME Cultural Workers United is leading the largest organizing movement for workers at the nation’s libraries, museums, zoos and other cultural institutions. CWU represents 45,000 workers at cultural institutions, more than any other union.