Employees at Sesame Workshop Win Union Election Joining OPEIU Local 153

New York, NY — May 15, 2025 — Employees at Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind Sesame Street, voted 55-19 in an election run by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to certify their labor union, the Sesame Workers Union. The supermajority (74%) voted to join the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153.

After Sesame Workshop attempted to cancel the election twice and tried to turn away eligible employees on election day, the election results mark a significant milestone for over 100 workers at Sesame Workshop. Workers represent a broad cross-section of the people who power Sesame Workshop’s impact—including early childhood education experts, fundraisers, facilities staff, producers, paralegals, and more. The newly formed union is committed to strengthening workplace collaboration, equity, and transparency in support of the organization’s educational mission.

"We can officially say that today, May 15th, is brought to you by the letter U! Our win is representative of everything Sesame Street stands for and has taught us for generations; the power and importance of community, fairness, kindness, care, and knowing the people in your neighborhood--or as we like to say, the people in our union.

As the workers behind this cherished brand and mission, we have the utmost love and respect for it and today's win demonstrates that commitment to our work, our organization, and one another. Sesame Workers Union is essential in ensuring we, the workers, can all do our part in helping children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.

We look forward to collaborating with Sesame Workshop management in communicating our needs and bargaining over our working conditions so we can all continue forward together to deliver on this invaluable work that is needed now more than ever," said Autumn Sancho, Sesame Workers Union. 

“With a history of unions at Sesame Workshop like WGA and SAG-AFTRA, SWU was founded on the basis of inclusion of the most Sesame workers as possible. The union is the people in your neighborhood, friends, colleagues, coworkers,” said Kristen Sandmeier, Sesame Workers Union. “Our union shows how we can come together in community and collectively negotiate working conditions that are truly responsive to the needs of all of our workers. We are so excited to certify the union and to begin working in harmony with Sesame leadership to ensure a timely first contract.”

For over 50 years, Sesame Workshop has educated generations of children through the beloved Sesame Street television show and global social impact initiatives. Today, the organization provides vital early learning to 150 million children across 150 countries. While the Sesame Street cast and crew—including puppeteers and writers—have long been unionized, this marks the first time administrative staff have pursued union representation. In a landmark move, they have now won their vote to unionize.

OPEIU Local 153, which represents thousands of workers in nonprofit, media, and educational organizations, welcomed the results and pledged to support Sesame Workshop employees as they prepare to enter negotiations for a first collective bargaining agreement.

“Local 153 has been organizing with an eye to the future of the labor movement, and Sesame Workshop workers represent the new labor movement to a tee: diverse, empathetic, community minded and dedicated to the values of solidarity and improving the lives of people and their families,” said David Hamer-Hodges, Director of Organizing and First Contracts for OPEIU Local 153. “We look forward to doing exactly that at the bargaining table and as a leading example of a sharp, vibrant, inclusive labor movement that will fight and win for working people into the future.”

The Sesame Workers Union looks forward to working constructively with Sesame Workshop leadership to promote a healthy, inclusive, and collaborative workplace for all.