Met Museum Staff Vote to Unionize with UAW Local 2110 in Historic Move

The Metropolitan Museum of Art Staff Unionizes with UAW Local 2110

In a significant move towards labor organization, the staff at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, NY, has voted to unionize under UAW Local 2110. The recent election, supervised by the National Labor Relations Board, resulted in 542 votes favoring the union and 172 opposing. An additional 100 ballots remain contested, as the Museum has questioned the eligibility of these staff members. The dispute over these challenged ballots will be resolved through arbitration once the National Labor Relations Board officially certifies the union.

The journey towards unionization has been in the making for over four years, driven by employee concerns over job security, pay equity, and transparency in employment policies.

Stephanie Post, a Digital Archivist at the museum, expressed her support by stating, “I’ve worked at The Met for 31 years and I truly love it but our expertise and our labor have real value deserving of recognition. By unionizing, we aren’t just protecting our own jobs—we are building a collective voice to ensure every staff member, now and in the future, gets the respect and protection they deserve.”

Rebecca Capua, a conservator with 16 years at the museum, remarked, “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 has earned them a seat at the table.”

The newly formed union encompasses a diverse group of employees spanning over fifty departments, including curators, conservators, librarians, sales specialists, visitor experience coordinators, development officers, archivists, digital and IT staff, among others.

Conservator Jonathan Farbowitz shared his enthusiasm, saying, “I’m so inspired by the way Met staff across departments have come together to make this historic victory happen.” Meanwhile, Tiffany Camusci, a Data Analyst, added, “There is no stronger feeling of solidarity than working together with my colleagues to establish our union.”

Since the onset of the pandemic, numerous museum workers nationwide have pursued unionization. UAW Local 2110 already has representation in several prestigious art institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art, the MFA, Boston, the Guggenheim, the Whitney Museum, the Jewish Museum, and others.

Reflecting on the unionization process, Alison Clark, a Collections Manager in Asian Art with over two decades at the museum, said, “Organizing with my Met colleagues was an incredible, galvanizing experience that I will never forget. Unionizing with UAW Local 2110 is only our first step and we look forward to negotiating a fair and equitable contract that reflects staff needs and priorities.”