Membership FAQs
Is my position union-eligible?
Who exactly is and isn’t union-eligible is a somewhat complicated legal determination. A good rule of thumb: if you do not have hiring or firing power over other workers, and are not classified as confidential staff, you’re probably eligible. Email us with your institution and job title at 397staff@dc47.org and we will find out!
Does being a member come with a specific time commitment?
No. Being a member entitles you to do things like attend meetings and join committees, but there’s no expectation that every member will do so. Participating in major democratic decisions that affect the whole union (like contract ratification votes and officer elections) is certainly recommended, but there’s no requirement.
Can I be punished for being a union member?
It is against the law for management to fire or otherwise punish a union-eligible worker for being a union member or taking part in protected union activities. There is power in numbers, so we encourage workers to be public in their support of the union. Many Philly Cultural Workers United members have been proudly supporting the union in public since 2020 and have faced no repercussions. If you believe you are being retaliated against because of your support for the union, talk to a steward or contact us immediately at 397staff@dc47.org.
What are ways I can get involved?
The first step to getting involved in your union is to sign your member card. Then you can:
Check out our bulletin boards! Each institution has bulletin boards with union resources posted in staff spaces.
Read our emails! Our emails share information about upcoming meetings, social events, and any other pertinent topics that members should be aware of. During contract negotiations, you’ll also receive bargaining updates from the table team and learn how to take part in actions in the fight for the fair contract we deserve.
Attend our quarterly membership meetings! Attending our meetings is a great way to learn about things going on within our union, our workplaces, and the broader world of AFSCME and the labor movement.
Connect with other members on WhatsApp! You can join social channels to chat with other members and committee channels to explore projects across our unions.
Join our union committees and take part in actions! Some committees serve the entire local, while others serve individual chapters. You can commit as little or as much time as you have available.
Reach out to any 397 staff member with questions, concerns, or interest in finding more ways to get active in your union. Engaged members make a strong union.
Why be a member?
The first union in Philadelphia was established in 1794, when shoemakers organized themselves to fight for better wages and working conditions. From the factories to the docks, Philadelphia is built on the legacy of these earliest workers and all others that came before us. Our rights and protections are written in their blood and sweat.
Like the generations of workers before us, we are building a better workplace for ourselves and for the generations that come after us. This is only possible through collective action. Organizing as a union gives us the strength that we lack as individuals.
Philly Cultural Workers United is defined by its members, us. Members determine our union’s decisions and priorities. Members elect the leadership of Local 397, vote on important decisions like contract ratifications and strike authorizations, take part in union actions, and pay dues to support priorities like our legal representation in negotiations and arbitration.
By using our collective power in the workplace, we have the chance to change the world. Solidarity makes a better future inevitable. Signing your member card is the first step.
“People say, ‘Why do you do it?’ That is my answer. This is where the dignity comes from.”
-Katherine Wilson, Quoted in Sarah Jaffe’s Work Won’t Love You Back
Have more questions about what membership means? Email 397staff@dc47.org and we’ll set you up for a one-on-one conversation.
