**MEDIA ADVISORY FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 4**

Contact: Jennie Smith-Camejo, jennie.smith-camejo@seiu1021.org, (510) 710-0201

The California Academy of Sciences will celebrate its 172nd birthday on April 4 (“Academy Day”) with a wide array of special programming and activities. Yet in front of the museum, members of Cal Academy Workers United (CAWU) — including non-supervisory employees working in guest experience, research, education, marketing, development, and all other areas of the research institution and museum — will be expressing their frustration and disappointment with their senior leadership team’s refusal to settle a fair first contract. And they will be sharing those feelings not just through bullhorns, but also with guerilla street art. 

What: Guerilla street mural painting in support of workers’ contract fight & rally
When: Friday, April 4. Photo & video opportunities of guerilla street art & interview availability from 10 a.m.; rally at 12 p.m.
Where: Music Concourse in front of the Cal Academy of Sciences
Who: Members of Cal Academy Workers United and supporters
Why: To call the attention of Academy guests, members, donors, and volunteers to the ongoing fight for a fair first contract
Visuals: Workers in their union shirts and buttons painting on sidewalks; rallying, chanting

“We will be out front making lighthearted artwork with a serious message: It’s past time for senior leadership to get serious about reaching a fair agreement with us so that we can all focus on making the Academy the best possible place to work, visit, and volunteer,” said Marie Angel, who has been a curatorial assistant in geology at the Academy for seven years and is on the union’s negotiations team. “We’re doing this on Academy Day because it’s a chance to interact with so many members of the public we don’t get to see as often, thanks to ‘pay-what-you-can’ entrance. We welcome all guests to come enjoy Academy Day! CAWU wants guests to know we’re fighting for a fair, sustainable contract that honors our contributions to this institution. Thus far, we’ve gotten stalling, delays, and refusals from senior leadership to seriously consider our top priorities.

Those top priorities for their first union contract include: clear pathways to promotion; fair hiring practices; transparency and accountability in finance and governance; fair, regular pay increases for all employees; and raising the minimum pay for the lowest paid employees.

Cal Academy Workers United have been in negotiations for their first contract for over a year since they won their union with SEIU 1021 in July 2023. While progress has been made, management continues to insist they cannot afford raises for staff that would keep up with cost of living, let alone reduce inequality. Meanwhile, Sampson’s pay was increased by 21% in one year to $629,458. Sampson’s salary by itself would pay for a raise of over 3% for the entire membership. Over half of the workers in the union bargaining unit currently earn less than the living wage for San Francisco.

Last month, SEIU 1021 sent a letter to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Government Audit and Oversight Committee requesting they audit the Academy’s finances, as the Academy receives city funding. The financial decisions made by past and present administrations and board of trustees have prioritized executive compensation, investors, and fund managers over the public-serving mission of the institution and the educational and scientific programs — representing a possible breach of their fiduciary duties. 

In February, about 60 Academy workers gathered to deliver a petition for a fair first contract signed by over 70% of the bargaining unit to Executive Director Scott Sampson at the Academy Board of Trustees meeting. But, in a display of the dismissiveness and disrespect that has been frustrating workers, Sampson refused to come out to accept the petition from his staff.

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SEIU Local 1021 represents nearly 60,000 employees in local governments, nonprofit agencies, health care programs, courts, and schools throughout Northern California, including seven private colleges and numerous community colleges. SEIU Local 1021 is a diverse, member-driven organization with members who work to make our cities, schools, colleges, counties, and special districts safe and healthy places to live and raise our families.