Philly Cultural Workers United

In 2020, Philly Cultural Workers United was established as Local 397 of AFSCME District Council 47, with the PMA Union as its first chapter. We became part of the national museum unionization wave reshaping cultural institutions by asserting collective power through our labor.

For too long, it was an open secret that pursuing a career in museums meant accepting a job with low pay and high turnover. The 2019 Art/Museum Salary Transparency spreadsheet exposed the suppressed wages, pay inequalities, and precarious terms of employment that characterize museums across Philadelphia and America.

As the workers who make museums function, we know we deserve better.

Forming a local for unionized cultural institutions in Southeastern Pennsylvania allows us to pool our resources, share our knowledge, and fight more effectively for the contracts we deserve. Together, we have the power to transform our workplaces. Divided we beg; united we win.

Today, Local 397 represents eight unions, four of which are currently fighting for a fair contract.

If you and your coworkers are interested in organizing a new chapter as part of Local 397, please contact 397staff@dc47.org or reach out to District Council 47 directly.

Governance

Local 397 is governed by a shared constitution and Executive Board. Each chapter of Local 397 is entitled to a Chapter Chair on the Executive Board once they have ratified their first contract. Meet the current officers of Local 397 here.

Resolutions

Local 397 is a progressive union that recognizes our workplace organizing as part of the larger struggle to create a just, equitable world. Our Political Engagement Committee writes resolutions to shape how Local 397 uses our power beyond our workplaces. These resolutions define our Local’s decisions and intentions, act as a guide to engaging with our political and cultural reality, and facilitate global solidarity with all oppressed peoples. They are then shared with District Council 47 and AFSCME to be formally adopted beyond the scope of Local 397.

Local 397 Sanctuary Resolution

Against the War in Iran Resolution

Logo Design Credits

PCWU Logo by Ridge Chin & Matteo Hintz

PMAU Logo by Nick Masserelli

PMWU Logo by Luca Denegre

PTMU Logo by Ellie Rentschler

SCSU Logo by Jayla Clark