Over 70% of eligible MOHAI employees signed union authorization cards prior to Monday’s announcement, said Emily Turner, a K-12 and youth program coordinator who is part of the union’s organizing committee, in a phone call Tuesday. MOHAI Workers United hopes to form a “wall-to-wall” union to advocate for better working conditions for all employees, Turner said.

“We want more autonomy over our working conditions in our workplaces and to do things democratically,” Turner said.

MOHAI employees cited understaffing and high turnover, a lack of benefits — such as healthcare — for part-time and on-call workers, and low pay despite rising living costs in Seattle as some reasons for unionizing, Turner said. They are also seeking “changes in leadership practices, organizational culture and workplace policies” so that staff can feel comfortable speaking up about their concerns, according to a news release.