A Bitter and Protracted Contract Fight at the New Museum Has Ended With a Big Win for Its Unionized Employees

The unionized staff at the New Museum
have reached a labor deal with the
institution’s leadership, ending a bitter, drawn-out negotiation
between the two parties over wages and benefits.

The 70-some members of the
union, which belongs to UAW 2110, announced today that they have
agreed to a new five-year contract that will result in increased
wages, additional paid time off, and lower health care
costs.

“We’re really proud of this
contract,” Dana Kopel, a
union member who works as a senior editor and publications
coordinator at the museum, tells artnet News. “I think it’s a good
contract. It lays a solid foundation, which is crucial for a first
contract.”

“The New Museum has invested in
our staff and will continue to do so to promote a diverse and
thriving culture,” the institution added in a statement. “We look
forward to continuing to work together to advance the Museum’s
important mission.”

Citing stalled discussions and
hostile responses from management, the union voted
late last week to go on
strike if they were unable to reach a collective bargaining
agreement with the museum. The union’s demands included guaranteed
health care, improved worker safety measures, and a minimal annual
wage of $46,000 for full-time employees. 

“Unfortunately, the museum’s
position has been overwhelmingly at odds with both the needs of its
employees and its own mission statement,” Liz Mahan, a member of
the union’s bargaining committee, said in a statement at the time.
“They have disparaged our proposals for equitable salaries, health
coverage for all workers, and necessary union rights.”

The threat spurred further talks
between the union and the museum, leading to marathon negotiating
sessions over the weekend. After a 14-hour discussion on Saturday,
the two groups agreed to principle terms. Members of UAW 2110
formally voted to ratify the new contract
yesterday. 

“To start, the tenor at the
table was pretty hostile,” Kopel says of the first negotiating
sessions held earlier this year. “We started off far apart
from the museum. But towards
the end—especially leading up to the strike deadline—the pressure
was on and both sides were working hard to reach an
agreement.”

The new deal, effective as of
yesterday, October 1, will grant full-time employees a wage
increase averaging 8 percent over the first year. Yearly salaries
will range from $46,000 to $68,500, broken down into a four-tiered
system based on title and seniority. Part-timers will see a 15
percent bump to their hourly wage on average during that same time,
with 3 percent increases in subsequent years. 

Unionized employees will receive
increased paid time off and will see reductions in health care
costs. The agreement also stipulates the formation of a
labor-management committee, which will oversee issues such as staff
diversity and workplace safety, and will have the opportunity to
present annually to a subsection of the museum’s board of
trustees.

“We know this agreement is going
to change things at the New Museum, but we’re also hopeful that
it’ll change things more broadly in the art world,” Kopel says.
“Conditions need to change. It feels good to be a part of that push
to make things more equitable.”

The post A Bitter and Protracted Contract Fight at the New
Museum Has Ended With a Big Win for Its Unionized Employees
appeared first on artnet News.