Empowering Voices: Met Workers Unite for a Fairer Future
The Historic Vote: A New Chapter for Met Employees
Workers at the Metropolitan Museum of Art recently made a landmark decision, voting decisively to join Local 2110 of the United Auto Workers (UAW). This pivotal action signifies the formation of one of the largest museum unions in the nation. The outcome, with 542 votes in favor and 172 against, involved nearly a thousand salaried and hourly staff members from over 50 different departments within the institution.
Scope of Representation: Diverse Roles Under One Union
The newly established union will represent a broad spectrum of museum professionals. This includes essential roles such as curators, conservators, librarians, visitor experience coordinators, and archivists. Although approximately 100 ballots were challenged by management and remain sealed, awaiting arbitration, the overall mandate for unionization is clear. This move unifies a diverse workforce, ensuring a collective voice for all.
Behind the Momentum: Years of Advocacy and Core Concerns
The successful unionization effort at the Met culminated after more than four years of dedicated advocacy. Key motivators for the workers included the desire for enhanced job security, equitable compensation, and increased transparency in the museum's administrative practices. Employees voiced a clear need for their professional expertise and hard work to be recognized and valued appropriately.
A Voice for the Workforce: Protecting Present and Future Employees
Stephanie Post, a digital archivist with over three decades of service at the Met, emphasized the profound impact of this union. She stated that unionization not only safeguards current positions but also establishes a collective platform to ensure that every staff member, both now and in the future, receives the respect and protection they rightfully deserve. This sentiment highlights the long-term vision behind the organizing efforts.
Broader Trends: A National Movement in Cultural Institutions
The Metropolitan Museum of Art's unionization is part of a larger national trend, particularly accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw many cultural professionals face job insecurity. Local 2110 UAW already represents employees at other prominent New York cultural venues, including MoMA, the Brooklyn Museum, the Guggenheim, and the Whitney Museum. The Met workers formally reached out to the union in 2022, signifying a strong, organized push for labor rights across the arts sector.