A letter for Scott Stulen
9-23-24 VSO Union Letter to New CEO Scott Stulen
After 2 years of bargaining, today (9/23) SAM VSO Union members delivered a letter to new SAM CEO Scott Stulen asking him to directly meet with the workers of Seattle Art Museum. The letter was signed by a majority of Security Staff, with the goal of discussing our hopes and concerns as we wrap up contract negotiations, and to begin building a strong relationship between the SAM VSO Union members and SAM's new CEO. Here is the letter in full:
Dear Scott Stulen,
First, we would like to warmly welcome you to our home of Seattle and to the SAM staff community. There has been a lot of buzz around your appointment, which makes us eager to see how you’ll shape SAM’s next chapter artistically and institutionally. As the front line in greeting patrons to our institution, we look forward to working with you in creating a world-class experience for the local community and visitors from across the globe.
The Philbrook Museum of Art deputy director of external affairs has said that you have a commitment to community-building. Considering that we all work in Seattle and the majority of us live here, we are also a part of this community. This is in contrast to the museum’s previous statements in the bargaining room that Seattle’s high cost-of-living is Seattle’s issue, not the museum’s; and thus SAM will not provide a wage that meets Seattle’s cost of living. This flippant statement by SAM’s bargaining representative implies falsely that the museum is disconnected from Seattle’s community and culture, when in reality SAM plays an important role in creating the culture and economic conditions of this city. According to the Seattle Times article from June 14th, 2023 WA renters need to earn twice the minimum wage to afford rent: “In the Seattle and Bellevue area, a renter would need to make even more: $40.38, or $84,000 a year.” This choice by SAM to claim it is part of the community, but to then distance itself from the idea of community when the data shows its workers need it most, is cynical and self-serving. We work at the SAM because we love the community the institution says it serves but working here in its current state has become draining and morally conflicting.
For over two years, the SAM VSO Union has tirelessly bargained and organized to improve the working conditions for the largest department in the Seattle Art Museum and helped facilitate various interdepartmental and local community connections. In response, SAM security employees have dealt with severe union-busting tactics, including but not limited to delay tactics that have led to 26 months of bargaining without a first contract. This places SAM five months beyond the national average for unions bargaining first contracts at art museums (according to Museums Moving Forward). One way this delay by the museum has manifested is stonewalling. SAM VSO Union has made clear that WaSHR benefits (Wage, Seniority, Health Care, Retirement) are needed for SAM workers to survive and thrive in Seattle, and SAM has refused to move on three of these four main priorities. We ask the question to you Scott, is it good faith bargaining for the museum to refuse to move at all on the majority of worker priorities?
We hope you share our goal of better wages and working conditions and intend to use your new position to continue shaping the SAM into the inspiring, educational, and engaging institution we all want it to be.
We kindly invite you to meet with us during this week to formally introduce ourselves and discuss our goals aimed at improving SAM. Please respond to us via email at your earliest convenience to let us know whether you would like to meet with us. This meeting will not only be an opportunity for members of our department to present individual letters detailing our personal experiences and the impact of working at SAM but also a chance for open and transparent communication.
We look forward to the opportunity to sit down with you and have a productive discussion about how we can work together toward shaping a positive and mutually empowering work environment at SAM.
We are now waiting and will post another update when we receive Scott Stulen’s response. In the meantime, today is also a great day for you to send a letter to SAM management and the board of trustees as well!
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