In 2021, Seattle Art Museum (SAM)’s Board of Trustees hired third-party security contractors to deter unhoused individuals from sleeping outside the closed museum.
This choice had tragic consequences. The third-party security contractors committed assault against an unarmed Black woman.
Now SAM’s board, this time to attempt to undercut their workers’ fight for better lives, intend to make the same mistake again. On October 18th, 2024, SAM’s wealthy Board of Trustees announced they will hire scab security workers, while its workers strike for better wages.
Below, find the details of SAM’s sad history with third-party security contractors:
June 2021
VSOs stand together against violent policing
VSOs caught word of SAM’s cruel plan to deter unhoused individuals in June of 2021. This plan came amidst a shelter crisis in Seattle, as all shelter capacities were cut in half due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
SAM VSOs, and other SAM workers recognized that SAM hiring additional third-party contractors could lead to violence against unhoused people, and so they quickly organized a petition to ask SAM not to implement this anti-people policy. The petition garnered over 600 signatures. In response, CEO Amada Cruz (with full support of the Board) sent out a dog-whistling email parroting Fox News talking points about unhoused individuals being violent, attempting to garner support for the Board of Trustees’ violent policies against them.
SAM CEO Amada Cruz via all-staff email, on 06.25.21
I ask you to consider a scenario. We stop the perimeter security checks, and one of your colleagues gets hurt or worse by someone with a broken bottle. I have to call their parent, partner, or friend to explain what happened and express my condolences. And that family member or friend asks me why we didn’t protect their loved one. What’s my answer? Because a small group of staff didn’t like the idea? Because I was afraid of what you would think of me?
September 2021
The Board’s Policies leads to racialized violence
Despite community opposition, the Board of Trustees carried out its plans and hired external building security contractors anyway. In late August 2021, SAM’s upper management hired private contract security company Star Protection Agency to provide exterior building Security services at the Downtown Seattle Art Museum location. Management ensured that these security staff would be specially trained in de-escalation and that no incidents of violence would occur. Within 2 weeks of this hiring, the workers’ worst fear came true.
A Star Protection employee committed gross misconduct, and paid an unhoused man to rob an unhoused Black woman on SAM property. This Star Security employee also filmed the robbery and texted another Star Security employee about it.
SAM Workers were able to get ahold of the text message records and emailed SAM upper management notifying them of the incident. SAM then terminated its contract with Star Security Services.
SAM CEO Amada Cruz via all-staff email, on 09.04.21
This morning, we learned that one of the new contract security guards offered money to a resident of the tent across from the museum to steal the belongings of another unhoused individual, ___________ who is often outside of SAM and was on museum property at the time. I contacted Danielle Nicas, Director of Security, right away and she started an investgation and received confirmation that the incident occurred. We immediately suspended the contract security’s services, released the guards from their dutes, and are terminating our contract with Star Protection Agency.
After the incident, museum management began investigating and intimidating SAM staff members who had organized the petition. Disappointed to see that working to push the museum’s actions to be in line with its stated ethics of DEI led to potential job loss, the members of SAM Workers knew forming a union was the only chance to make their voices heard and stay safe.
2024
After 27 months at the bargaining table with SAM, SAM still has not offered a contract that is sufficient to support workers survival in Seattle. Because we can’t wait any longer for a fair contract, SAM VSOs took the next step and are going on strike on November 29th, barring SAM’s board of trustees delivering a fair contract. In response, the board of trustees announced they would hire third-party security contractors as scabs during the strike, undermining their employees’ fight for better lives, and putting the community at risk in one fell swoop. It seems the board learned nothing from their first experience with external contractors.
SAM VSOs work everyday keep the art and the people in the museum (and the surrounding community) safe. We deserve a living wage, and benefits that allow us to thrive in the city.