Support SMM Workers Affected by Layoffs

On Aug 1, 2025, the Science Museum of Minnesota (SMM) began implementing its third round of layoffs in as many years. In all, 36 employees (including 29 union positions) will lose their jobs by the end of August, effectively reducing staffing levels by 13%. This round of layoffs impacts a wide array of museum roles, including gallery staff, educators, community outreach, and audience research – departments essential to fulfilling the museum’s mission.

A total of 33 union positions were initially identified for elimination, though that number has been reduced to 29 following aggressive pushback from across the organization and the community it serves. The remaining cuts primarily impact Visitor Experience (8 Visitor Experience Facilitators) and three departments in the Science, Equity, and Education division: the community engagement department has been entirely eliminated; the audience research department has been reduced from 10 permanent positions to 3 limited-term positions; and multiple instructors and support staff have been eliminated from the STEM Education department. There are also positions being modified, reduced or eliminated altogether in Museum Technology, Exhibit Maintenance, Paleontology, Accounting, and Parking, while the museum also announced it would discontinue its very popular summer camp program after this year.

Despite statements claiming a desire to work in collaboration with the union, SMM Senior Leaders began notifying impacted staff of their impending layoffs starting on July 9th after providing Union leadership less than 24 hours advance notice. And while upper management has been largely unaffected, these cuts not only primarily affect bargaining unit work essential to the museum’s ability to deliver on its mission, but impact the lowest paid, most highly visible workers on staff.

Along with being deeply concerned about how this sudden change in staffing levels will impact the long term health of the museum, we are devastated by how these decisions will affect our dedicated colleagues, and are seeking to support folks through this difficult time via mutual aid and crowdfunding. As we work to push back against these cuts and enforce our hard-won contract, your donations can help ease the financial burden faced by our members who are suddenly out of work in a very difficult economic environment.

This fundraiser is managed by SMMWorkers Union AFSCME Local 20. 100% of funds will be distributed to affected staff.