Letter to Management and BOT

March 25, 2025

Dear Museum Senior Management and Board of Trustees,

We believe that the Natural History Museum (NHM) of Los Angeles County and the La Brea Tar Pits’ (LBTP) commitment to inclusivity, authenticity and intentionality starts with respecting and empowering its staff. We, the staff at NHM and LBTP, provide valuable services to our Los Angeles community and keep our institutions running.

We believe that the power of decision making must be shared with all voices, including ours, and therefore, we, the undersigned – staff members from various departments and diverse roles across the institution– are uniting to form our union with AFSCME Cultural Workers United, Council 36.

In an effort to make our workplace more equitable, we aim to address:

  • Better pay, benefits and compensation that reflect increasing job responsibilities and the rising cost of living
  • Transparency, accountability and a voice when it comes to decisions that affect staff
  • Healthy and safe workplace conditions to ensure the protection, support and resources for all employees
  • Supportive organizational structure and communication that stabilizes employees' workload, fosters collaboration, and advocates for fair representation
  • Inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility that creates an environment that fosters collaboration and strengthens our community
  • Job security and career growth to create professional pathways for career development and advancement
  • A workplace that values, empowers, and advocates for its employees

We urge NHM and LBTP to respect our legal right to form our union, free from intimidation or retaliation. Additionally, The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the La Brea Tar Pits have the opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to inclusivity and access by voluntarily recognizing our union upon demonstration of majority support and responding to us at nhmtpworkersunion@gmail.com​​ by March 31, 2025.

Many museums and nonprofits in Los Angeles County have voluntarily recognized their staff unions and NHMLAC has an opportunity to follow their lead by demonstrating your commitment to us. We look forward to working together to make our museum a better place for all.

Together,

The Natural History Museum and Tar Pits Workers Union (NHMTPWU)