Digital Editions
Newsletters
Subscribe
Digital Editions
Newsletters
Art market
Museums & heritage
Exhibitions
Books
Podcasts
Columns
Technology
Adventures with Van Gogh
Art market
Museums & heritage
Exhibitions
Books
Podcasts
Columns
Technology
Adventures with Van Gogh
Protest
news

MoMA employees lead protest on eve of union negotiations

Around 250 staff members have been working without a contract since 20 May

Victoria Stapley-Brown
6 August 2018
Share
The protest by MoMA's union staff began in the lobby and eventually around 100 employees gather in a march around the block @ momalocal2110 on Instagram

The protest by MoMA's union staff began in the lobby and eventually around 100 employees gather in a march around the block @ momalocal2110 on Instagram

Chanting the phrase “Ancient Wages, Modern Art!” and singing the labour song Solidarity Forever, employees of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York led a protest today (6 August), ahead of tomorrow’s union negotiations with the museum over a new contract. As reported by Artnews, protest began in the lobby and eventually around 100 employees gathered in a march around the block.

The protest occurred on the eve of closed-door negotiations between the United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers Local 2110 union, which represents around 250 museum staff members, and MoMA. Employees, who have been working without a contract since 20 May, also led a protest on 31 May on the occasion of the museum’s swanky annual Party in the Garden gala fundraiser. They are seeking mandatory salary increases for time of service, better health care and more job security for junior employees.

The negotiations come during the museum’s $400m expansion, due to open in 2019, and according to the union's president Maida Rosenstein, fewer than 50% of museum employees who have had to work extra hours for the expansion project are eligible for overtime. Rosenstein has suggested that a strike—which last occurred at the museum in 2000—is not off the table. But, she tells The Art Newspaper: “We hope that the museum gets the message that they need to substantially improve their offer.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by MoMA Local 2110 (@momalocal2110)

ProtestEconomicsPoliticsMuseum of Modern Art New York
Share
Subscribe to The Art Newspaper’s digital newsletter for your daily digest of essential news, views and analysis from the international art world delivered directly to your inbox.
Newsletter sign-up
Information
About
Contact
Cookie policy
Data protection
Privacy policy
Frequently Asked Questions
Subscription T&Cs
Terms and conditions
Advertise
Sister Papers
Sponsorship policy
Follow us
Instagram
Bluesky
LinkedIn
Facebook
TikTok
YouTube
© The Art Newspaper

Related content

Economicsnews
1 June 2018

Unionised MoMA staff protest low wages during Party in the Garden fundraising gala

Around 250 workers are fighting for better pay and benefits, as the museum gears up to open a $400m expansion

Ivy Olesen
Unionsnews
8 November 2023

On the eve of a planned strike, Brooklyn Museum workers ratify first union contract

After over two years of negotiations, members of the museum’s UAW Local 2110 union voted to ratify their first contract

Anni Irish
Museum of Modern Art New Yorknews
17 August 2018

MoMA agrees to museum-wide raises after months of negotiations with union

"The museum shifted its position substantially", union boss says

Victoria Stapley-Brown