Workers at the Metropolitan Museum of Art are taking steps to unionize, with nearly 1,000 full- and part-time employees petitioning the National Labor Relations Board for a union election. The employees, who come from various roles within the museum, are citing issues such as long-term pay inequities, lack of job protection, and increasing workloads as their motivation for organizing.
If the union vote is successful, almost half of the museum’s 2,015 employees will be represented by the newly formed union, making it one of the largest museum unions in the United States. The move towards unionization is part of a larger trend within the art world, with staff at institutions like the Guggenheim Museum, Whitney Museum of American Art, and Brooklyn Museum also organizing under the Local 2110 UAW in recent years.
The push for unionization at The Met began during the pandemic, with a group of long-time staff members leading the effort. Rebecca Capua, a conservator with 16 years of experience at the museum, highlighted the need for collective representation in times of crisis. The process of organizing has been deliberate and inclusive, with organizers working diligently to reach this point.
Staff members at The Met are seeking to address issues such as changes to work-from-home policies, erosion of benefits, and the challenges posed by large-scale capital projects. Alison Clark, a collections manager, emphasized the importance of having a collective voice to address concerns with the museum. While specific demands related to pay equity and health benefits have not been defined, The Met currently offers a 4% annual pay increase schedule, with 600 employees earning over $100,000.
In response to the unionization efforts, a spokesperson for The Met expressed support for the staff’s right to seek representation and highlighted the museum’s existing relationships with other unions. The museum aims to maintain a workplace where staff can succeed and thrive, while also acknowledging the importance of collective bargaining in addressing staff concerns.
As the unionization process unfolds at The Met, it reflects a broader movement within the art world towards collective action and advocacy for fair working conditions. The outcome of the union vote will have significant implications for the future of labor relations at one of the world’s leading art museums.
