Home / Business and Economy / LACMA Workers Unionize to Secure Fair Pay and Benefits Amid Museum Overhaul
LACMA Workers Unionize to Secure Fair Pay and Benefits Amid Museum Overhaul
29 Oct
Summary
- LACMA workers aim to form union, LACMA United, with AFSCME
- Employees struggle with wages not keeping up with rising costs
- Expanded responsibilities without additional compensation due to high turnover
On October 29th, 2025, workers at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) announced their plans to form a union, LACMA United, with AFSCME Cultural Workers United District Council 36. The new labor alliance would represent over 300 museum staffers, including curators, educators, and guest relations associates.
In an open letter, LACMA United urges the museum's management to prioritize the wellbeing of its workforce as the institution undergoes a major $750 million redesign. Many employees are struggling with wages that have not kept up with the rising cost of living in Los Angeles, one of the most expensive cities in the world. At the same time, staff across various departments have had to absorb expanded responsibilities and workloads, often without additional compensation, due to high turnover, limited resources, and vacant or frozen positions.
The workers have requested that LACMA's executive team and board of trustees voluntarily recognize the union by November 5th. If granted, LACMA will join a growing number of Los Angeles County museums, including the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Academy Museum, and the Natural History Museum, that have already granted voluntary recognition to their staff unions organized with AFSCME District Council 36.
