Whitney Museum Union Ratifies Agreement on Wages and Working Conditions

Members of the Whitney Museum Union have ratified a memorandum of agreement by an overwhelming majority, following months of negotiations over wages and working conditions.

In a statement posted on Instagram on 4 October, the union said the contract includes significant wage increases, particularly for its lowest-paid workers, expanded parental and bereavement leave, and improved communication between the union and management on health and safety issues. The statement did not specify the wage increases or the duration of the contract.

The announcement came one day before workers had planned to begin a strike if a fair agreement was not reached. The deadline coincided with the preview week for the museum’s Roy Lichtenstein retrospective, which opens to the public on 11 October. The union’s first three-year contract, negotiated through UAW Local 2110, expired in June.

“It took many months of negotiations and would not have been possible without the strength of all the members of the bargaining unit who supported us throughout the process,” the union said, thanking supporters for their solidarity.