The effort spans multiple departments, according to supporters, and comes as the institution — a city-owned natural history museum and research facility in Golden Gate Park that draws roughly 1.5 million visitors a year — has faced scrutiny over executive compensation and staffing levels since the pandemic.

At least one former employee, writing on Reddit's r/sanfrancisco forum, said conditions at the museum have deteriorated noticeably since before COVID. The post drew 14 upvotes and described support for the organizing effort. The California Academy of Sciences receives city funding and operates under a lease agreement with San Francisco Recreation and Parks.

The academy has not issued a public statement on the union campaign. Management's position on recognition has not been reported.

The organizing effort is in its public-outreach phase. Whether workers will file for a formal election with the National Labor Relations Board — or seek voluntary recognition from academy leadership — has not been announced.

Watch for: any response from academy leadership, a potential NLRB filing, and whether the Board of Supervisors — which controls the city's lease and funding relationship with the academy — takes up the labor question in committee.