Security guards at the de Young Museum in San Francisco have leveled serious allegations against the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF) and their union, SEIU 1021, citing a decade of workplace toxicity. Multiple lawsuits detail a culture of whistleblower retaliation, wrongful termination, and harassment, including claims of religious discrimination where a guard was allegedly called a "terrorist" and threatened with gun violence by management. To date, the city has paid out over $1 million to settle seven different lawsuits from security staff, with more litigation reportedly on the horizon.
This case highlights a significant rift between institutional leadership and frontline staff within a major American museum. While FAMSF representatives claim the issues are historical and that current management follows strict protocols, the ongoing nature of the lawsuits and the specific naming of current directors suggest systemic failures in HR and union representation. The situation underscores the growing scrutiny of labor practices and internal culture within cultural institutions, where the treatment of essential staff like security guards is increasingly becoming a matter of public and legal accountability.