Unionized MoMA PS1 Workers Rally for Better Pay, Health Care

Roughly seventy-five unionized MoMA PS1 staffers gathered outside the Long Island City, New York, museum on February 23 to demand higher wages and more substantial health benefits,Hyperallergicreports. The workers, organized under the aegis of International Union of Operating Engineers Local 30 (IUOE Local 30), assembled outside the institution at about 5:30 p.m., shortly before the start of a gala celebrating a major Rirkrit Tiravanija survey. Rock music blared from a parked truck bearing a digital billboard, across which flashed the occasional blown-up image of Connie Butler—MoMA PS1’s new director as of this past September—and messages including “Director Butler: Support your employees and settle a fair contract now!” and “We say to director Butler: Art & cultural workers deserve to make a dignified living!”

IUOE Local 30’s contract with MoMA PS1 expired this past November. Since then, at least a half dozen meetings have taken place between union representatives and museum management, with workers pressing for increased wages and enhanced health benefits. Longtime staffer Jose Paz toldHyperallergicthat some maintenance workers were earning just $19.50 per hour, above New York’s $16 minimum wage but well below the $33.31living wagefor a single, childless adult calculated by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“The message we are receiving from museum leadership is that the museum’s economic outlook is dire and there is little room to increase wages and benefits,” Sean Brown, a business representative for IUOE Local 30, told the publication. Brown noted that most managerial positions have rematerialized at pre-pandemic levels, and that upgrades to equipment and planned programming are continuing apace. He acknowledged that the “growth and expansion” boded well for the institution but pointed out that it also stood in “direct opposition to the claims of PS1 leadership that the museum is facing economic hardship.” Brown further called for Butler, who has not been directly involved in contract negotiations, to intervene on the unionized workers’ behalf.

Molly Kurzius, director of external affairs for MoMA PS1, in a statement said that the museum is “committed to reaching a new contract with Local 30 and continue to make progress in negotiations.” Kurzius described the negotiation process as “productive,” asserting, “We’re confident we’ll arrive at an amicable resolution.”