Two unions representing staff at the Brooklyn Museum and the American Folk Art Museum have reached tentative agreements with their institutions, potentially averting strikes that had been authorized earlier this month. The unions, which are organized under UAW Local 2110, announced the deals on their Instagram pages. Voting on ratification begins today, September 29. The agreements emerged before either union publicized a strike date, unlike the Whitney Museum’s union, which recently set a strike deadline of October 5.
The developments come two weeks after the Brooklyn Museum and AFAM unions joined the Whitney Museum’s union in voting to authorize strike action amid stalled contract negotiations. That joint vote put all three museums on the same path toward potential walkouts. Instead, the Brooklyn Museum and AFAM reached agreements before their colleagues at the Whitney had to set a date.
The Three Unions
All three museum unions organize under UAW Local 2110, which represents the labor force across myriad cultural institutions in New York City and nationwide. The Brooklyn Museum and AFAM unions have now reached separate tentative agreements with their employers. The Whitney Museum’s union remains the outlier. Its members authorized strike action alongside the other two unions but have not yet ratified a deal. Their deadline of October 5 stands, meaning the outcome at the Whitney could still differ from the other two.
The Vote Begins Today
The Brooklyn Museum and AFAM unions are set to vote on ratifying the tentative agreements starting today, September 29. Because the agreements were reached before strike dates were set, the Brooklyn Museum and AFAM unions avoided the public spectacle of a walkout. The Whitney union did not have that option.
What the Agreements Cover
The parameters of the Brooklyn Museum and AFAM agreements have not yet been revealed. What is known is the demand that drove the negotiations: a wage floor of around $71,000 for full-time employees. All three unions have been mobilizing for that figure, which is the minimum amount that City Hall recently calculated for a single, childless adult to live sustainably in NYC.
The parameters of either proposal have not yet been revealed.
The Whitney Deadline Remains
The Whitney Museum’s union is still in a different position. Its members authorized strike action alongside the other two unions but have not yet ratified a deal. Their deadline of October 5 stands, meaning the outcome at the Whitney could still differ from the other two. The difference in timing is notable. The Brooklyn Museum and AFAM reached agreements before their unions publicized a strike date. The Whitney union, by contrast, set a deadline of October 5 even while negotiations remained ongoing.
| Museum | Union Status | Strike Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn Museum | Tentative agreement reached | None |
| American Folk Art Museum | Tentative agreement reached | None |
| Whitney Museum | Strike authorized, deadline October 5 | October 5 |
The Outcome at Stake
The votes on ratification will determine whether the agreements hold. A yes vote at both institutions would mean the deals are ratified and the strike threat is lifted. A no vote would send the parties back to the negotiating table. The unions would have to regroup, renegotiate, and try again. The Whitney union’s situation remains unresolved. Its members have authorized a strike but have not yet set a date beyond October 5.
The Broader Picture
UAW Local 2110 represents workers across myriad cultural institutions in New York City and nationwide. The Brooklyn Museum and AFAM deals are significant because they were reached before strike dates were set. The outcome at the Whitney could still differ from the other two.
What We Know So Far
The key facts are simple:
- The Brooklyn Museum and AFAM unions reached tentative agreements with their institutions.
- Voting on ratification begins today, September 29.
- The Whitney Museum’s union authorized a strike with a deadline of October 5.
- The agreements emerged before either union publicized a strike date.
- All three unions organize under UAW Local 2110.
- The unions have been mobilizing for a wage floor of around $71,000 for full-time employees.
The agreements have not been released publicly, so the details remain unknown. The vote today will reveal whether the unions accept them.
The Bottom Line
The Brooklyn Museum and AFAM unions reached tentative agreements with their institutions before strike dates were set. That sequence — reaching an agreement before a strike date — is the opposite of what typically happens in labor disputes. The Whitney union’s situation remains unresolved. Its members have authorized a strike but have not yet set a date beyond October 5. The outcome at the Whitney could still differ from the other two. For now, the Brooklyn Museum and AFAM have avoided the escalation that appeared likely just two weeks ago. The vote today will determine whether the agreements hold. A yes vote means the deals are ratified and the strike threat is lifted. A no vote sends everyone back to the negotiating table. For now, the relief is real. After both unions authorized strike action, they reached tentative agreements before setting strike dates, potentially avoiding walkouts entirely.
Source material: “Unions Reach Tentative Agreements at Brooklyn Museum and American Folk Art Museum,” Hyperallergic.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.