Academy Foundation Workers Union

Dear colleagues, 

We are excited to announce that we have reached majority support for our intent to unionize as the Academy Foundation Workers Union (AFWU) with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Council 36. Eligible staff members from the Foundation—including the Margaret Herrick Library, the Academy Film Archive, Digital Management Services, Oral History Projects, Education, Nicholl Fellowships, and the Science and Technology Council—have come together in our desire to organize a union. By negotiating a fair contract with Academy leadership, we can build toward an equitable and sustainable workplace. 

Academy Foundation employees work each day to ensure that the motion picture industry and its rich histories are accessible to all. Our labor is vital to the Academy’s vision of preserving film history and supporting the future of filmmaking in order to serve a diverse community of film researchers, film lovers and filmmakers. 

Just as we share this common goal of public enrichment, we also share common ideas for improvement in our workplace. Forming our union allows us to stand with each other and work toward substantial change. Our vision for positive change includes, but is not limited to: 

  • Improved wages and benefits 
  • Improved opportunities for advancement 
  • Improved working conditions 
  • Increased transparency 
  • Management accountability 
  • Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and climate change mitigation 

We ask Academy leadership to honor our legal right to organize and voluntarily recognize Academy Foundation Workers Union as our union. We know that working together with leadership, we can ensure a fair and equitable contract, creating a better workplace that raises standards for cultural workers throughout Los Angeles. 

Whether you are a part-time or full-time staff member, have worked here decades or have recently joined Foundation staff, your work on behalf of the Academy is meaningful, and your voice deserves to be heard. Please join us in our efforts. 

Academy Foundation Workers Union Organizing Committee

Sanjuana Rodriguez-Lopez, Special Collections Associate, Collections

A union's role is to advocate for the interests of its members and I believe all workers deserve that kind of representation.

Mark Toscano, Senior Film Preservationist

I admire and care about my colleagues immensely, and I'm so proud of our ongoing efforts to help contribute to and enrich our larger cinema culture and community.

Daniel Brantley, Archive Video Producer

I join our union because I believe in the value of the work we do. I stand with my co-workers as we advocate for fairness, transparency, and a stronger voice in our workplace.

Tessa Idlewine, Short Film Preservationist

I support a union because through collective action we can not only gain the wages, safety, and respect we deserve, but we can make the Academy and its mission even stronger.

Anne Kelly, Senior Archivist, Oral History Projects

I support the union because the future of film is its people, and Academy Foundation workers represent some of the top people in our field.

Sean P Kilcoyne, Senior Film Archivist

We are coming together to fight for better wages, improved working conditions, greater environmental sustainability, and a more substantial commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Adam Foster, Film Traffic Specialist

The Academy Foundation's collections and programs are only made accessible by way of its dedicated and highly skilled staff.

Caroline Jorgenson, Archivist, Core Collection

I'm excited about the union because I believe that everybody, regardless of job title, deserves to be able to afford housing and food in the city where they work.

rhana tabrizi, Specialist, Production Art

I support our union because I love my job and want to see a future here.

Charles Edward Rogers, Acquisitions Specialist

I support the union because I'm tired of being just one guy complaining.

Stella Ahn, Archivist, Collections

Our workplace has a lot of weight in the quality and conditions of our lives, and I no longer want to be powerless in this regard.

Jon Naveh, Senior Archivist, Core Collection Reference Files

I support this union because I believe in equity, parity, and transparency.

Genevieve Maxwell, Senior Reference Librarian

Unions are one of very few tools we have to address the imbalance of power in our workplaces. When workers are empowered, it makes our organizations stronger.

Jessi Jones, Film Archivist

As a union my colleagues and I can stand together to demand the fair treatment and dignity we so rightly deserve.

Ed Carter, Documentary Curator

A union will give us more of a say in our work-lives. Our collaboration, both with our fellow members and with management, will make the Academy a better place to work.

Heather Dawnstar Sabin, Awards Collections Curator

I'm for our union because I don't think a person should have to choose between doing a job they love and a job that supports them.

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