Whitney Museum workers rallied outside fundraising gala amid contract negotiations

The Whitney Museum of American Art held its annual gala on 19 May, honoring Julie Mehretu, Fern Kaye Tessler, and Adam D. Weinberg. As guests arrived, unionised staff members gathered outside to distribute flyers, buttons, and signs supporting a new labor contract. The action involved messages such as “We love fair contracts” and materials thanking attendees for solidarity with Whitney Union UAW Local 2110. UAW Local 2110 represents about 185 workers across multiple departments. The union was voluntarily recognized in June 2021, and the first contract was ratified in March 2023 and expires next month. The union planned a peaceful outreach during the fundraiser, but reported police barricades that created an antagonistic situation, while still allowing engagement with patrons and supporters.

"Workers at the Whitney who are members of UAW Local 2110 are negotiating their second contract since the museum voluntarily recognised the union in June 2021. It took 16 months to negotiate the first contract, which was ratified in March 2023 and expires next month. The union represents around 185 workers at the museum across departments including education, curatorial, visitor services, conservation and administrative roles."

"As guests arrived at the museum, unionised members of its staff gathered outside to distribute flyers, buttons and signs in support of a new labour contract. One sign read, “We love fair contracts”, while blue, red and yellow handouts thanked attendees for their “solidarity with the Whitney Union UAW Local 2110”. Several attendees stopped to take pins and informational materials as they entered the event, while others paused to briefly speak with workers gathered outside the museum before heading inside for the evening's festivities."

"The action on 19 May was organised to draw greater visibility to the bargaining process. According to a statement shared on the union's social media accounts, members had planned to “peacefully” distribute leaflets and buttons outside the museum during the fundraiser. The union also claimed that what it described as police barricades were placed along the front of the museum property on Gansevoort Street near the sidewalk, creating what organisers characterised as an antagonistic situation."

"Despite the unexpected barricades outside the fundraiser, union members say they were still able to engage directly with museum patrons, artists and supporters throughout the evening."

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