On Friday, January 16, workers at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art revealed their successful unionization after a favorable National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election. The Met Union, now a part of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2110, has formed months after employees initiated the process to advocate for pay equity, better representation, and increased transparency. The museum staff took the step of filing a petition with the NLRB in November when the institution did not voluntarily acknowledge the union.
This newly established union will cover employees across 50 departments, such as curators, librarians, conservators, visitor services, and archivists. Initially, the union sought to represent 1,000 of the museum’s roughly 2,000 staff members. In the voting process, 76% were in favor of unionization, with 542 supporting, 172 opposing, and 100 votes not included due to eligibility disputes by the museum, as reported by UAW Local 2110.
Rebecca Capua, a conservator at The Met, expressed, “We won because we were able to convince our colleagues that they don’t have to accept whatever is offered to them, that their experience and hard work have earned them a seat at the table,” in a statement from UAW Local 2110. The Met’s spokesperson stated their willingness to engage with the UAW in pursuit of their mission to foster creativity and knowledge.
Highlighting their commitment to staff, the spokesperson mentioned that over 600 employees earn above $100,000 annually, with salaries rising by 4% over the past five years. The Met emphasizes its dedication to providing competitive salaries, substantial benefits, professional growth opportunities, and a culture of inclusivity and excellence.
Alison Clark, a collections manager in the Asian Art Department, commented that unionizing is merely the beginning. “We look forward to negotiating a fair and equitable contract that reflects staff needs and priorities,” Clark noted.
