(BROOKLYN, NEW YORK) - Workers at the Brooklyn Museum, Members of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2110 have voted overwhelmingly to ratify their first Union contract, one day before the union had been set to Strike on Wednesday (November 8th).

“We’re thrilled to have finally reached this agreement with the Museum,” Elizabeth St. George, an Assistant Curator of Decorative Arts, said. “I will now have the opportunity to do the work I love at a Museum I love in a workplace with Union Rights.”

The Staff’s Union - UAW Local 2110, had been in negotiations for a first Union contract since January of 2022 and had held repeated protests at the Museum over its low wage offer and Unfair Labor Practices.

Workers announced the November 8th Strike deadline two weeks ago.

The new three-and-a-half-year contract will boost pay by more than 23% over the life of the contract, raising minimum pay rates and guaranteeing annual increases.

The contract also reduces Employee’s share of health premium costs, expands eligibility for health care benefits to Part-Time Staff averaging 20 hours per week and establishes an annual $50,000 set aside for professional development.

“This agreement will bolster salaries and invest in Staff professional development,” Lauren Bradley, an Associate Conservator who’s worked at the Museum for more than eight years, said. “This contract will lay a solid foundation for building long term professional careers at the Museum.”

The contract also establishes a Joint Labor-Management Committee, a grievance procedure with binding arbitration, layoff protection, a Health and Safety Committee and differential pay for Workers who take on extra work when a position is unfilled.

“The hard work of Museum Staff is behind the Museum’s incredible exhibitions and programs.” Senior Registrar Samantha Cortez said. “Having a contract that raises our pay rates and spells out legally enforceable rights is an acknowledgment of the important contribution we make as a Staff.”

To Directly Access This Labor News Report, Go To: Brooklyn Museum Workers Ratify First Union Contract | UAW

Photo Courtesy Of The UAW.