MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Discovery World employees announced Wednesday, Sept. 17, that they are forming a union with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

The Milwaukee science museum workers say they are seeking fair compensation, clearer paths for career advancement and a stronger voice in workplace decisions. Their statement said the goal of collective bargaining is to address concerns without fear of retaliation.

The IAM represents about 600,000 workers across North America in industries including education, libraries, horticulture, transportation and federal government service.

In a statement Wednesday, Discovery World said:

"At Discovery World, we believe that our staff is at the core of a positive guest experience. Their happiness and success matter deeply to us. We acknowledge their decision to pursue union representation and will respect this process.

As we move forward, our priority is to maintain strong relationships with our team while also ensuring that the organization remains healthy and sustainable. As a non-profit organization, we are still working to recover from a pandemic that decimated many organizations like ours. Since 2020, we’ve been working hard to ensure our budget is sustainable and that our resources are correctly allocated among our staff, our facilities, including our aquarium in the midst of repairs, and our programming that is focused on achieving our mission.

Together, we will continue to focus on advancing our mission and serving the community."