Museum Workers Unionize to Shift Power Imbalance
This past August, Brooklyn Museum workers’ union, UAW Local 2110, refused the final offer by the management after two years of lengthy negotiations. Three employees at the museum—Uran Hasanaj, Brittany Knight and Katie Yee—confirmed that they had heard of talks about a strike for which provisions were set by the bargaining committee at the end of summer.
Although the first museum union was formed in 1971 at MoMA, it was not until early 2023 that the Whitney and the Guggenheim museums finalized their inaugural contracts after protracted negotiations, also through Local 2110. In May, the Hispanic Society Museum and Library workers signed their first contract through UAW after two years of negotiations and two months of striking, per Artnet News. Nationally, staff at about two dozen museums have followed suit during recent years by unionizing and fighting for better wages and working conditions.
At the Labor Day Parade 2023, Jahmila Edwards, Associate director of DC 37, a union representing the Metropolitan Museum workers, said, “We are celebrating our new contracts. Over 16% compound wage increases, remote work pilot program, enhancements to our health and security funds.”
However, three guards at the Metropolitan—who did not provide their full information for fear of retaliation by the management—cited difficulties in obtaining vacation time during the first year of employment, as off-time is tied to seniority, with a gain of $1 hourly pay increase this year to $18.
Anna Wheatley, 64, at the Metropolitan and Elvin Rodriguez, 20, employed by MoMA—both full time security personnel—said that to make ends meet, guards, especially those with families, often worked a second or third job after working forty hours a week at the museum. Wheatley holds two other jobs: adjunct assistant professor at BMCC and freelance writer. She has lived in Chelsea for decades. “I’m a strong walker but still getting used to being on my feet, she said. “For two 12-hour and two 8-hour shifts.” She joined the Metropolitan because of the union.
Rodriguez showed “lean marks” on protruding wall corners where the seams had become discolored from friction with leaning bodies of tired guards. He often thought about elderly guards. “How do they stand for long shifts of 12-plus hours?” he said. “I’m young and fit and still I find it hard. I wish we could sit sometimes during the shift.”
Whether Brooklyn Museum offers improved terms or Local 2110 members opt to strike, one thing is clear—workers are unionizing and protesting to have negotiating powers. Multiple requests for interviews with managements at Brooklyn Museum, Metropolitan, American Museum of Natural History, and senior representatives at UAW and DC37 unions were not granted.