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Monterey Bay Aquarium workers won the union election Monday

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MONTEREY, Calif. (KION-TV) -- The Monterey Bay Aquarium celebrated a win in their union election Monday after a majority of people voted to move forward with AFSCME Council 57.

Back in January this year, Monterey Bay Aquarium employees came together and formed the Monterey Bay Aquarium Workers United (MBAWU) with more than 350 workers across the aquarium, including animal care, guest experience, education, marketing and more, according to the MBAWU.

“This win means a lot to us; we built a strong and dedicated community across the Aquarium to make MBAWU happen. I’m proud of all the hard work we put in to be able to now say we are official!” said Samantha Parzuchowski, a senior product manager at the aquarium.

According to a letter circulated among staff, workers began organizing to advocate for fair pay, workplace flexibility, comprehensive benefits, and better accessibility accommodations.

“Our win is one more step in the right direction of changing the cultural worker community and aquarium and zoo industry,” said Cristie Robles-Beilby, an aquarist at Monterey Bay Aquarium. “We are so excited about the connections and community we have built here and we are excited to engage in collaborative efforts to better our workplace for all our colleagues.”

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Jeanette Bent

I’ve been an international professional writer and performer for over 25 years. With a background in journalism, creative writing, dance and aerial, I find the intersection between all of these skills lands itself somewhere under the term “storytelling.”

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