The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art’s labor union went on strike Wednesday after failing to reach an agreement with the museum over wages.
Holding signs such as “Living Artists Living Wages” and “Our Power Is in Unity,” workers picketed outside the North Adams Museum (also known as MASS MoCA). Taut. They said they plan to picket every day until a resolution is reached.
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The union is part of United Auto Workers Local 2110 and employs approximately 120 full- and part-time employees, including curators, educators, administrative staff, custodians, visitor services employees, and more. represents the workers. They unionized in 2021, joining staff at other prominent museums that have unionized, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Employees at a Massachusetts art museum go on strike over a pay dispute. (Fox News)
In 2022, workers went on strike for one day. An agreement was reached on the first contract, allowing the agreement to be reopened in October 2023 for further wage increases. Negotiations on resuming wages have been going on for four months, but no agreement has been reached, the union said.
According to the union, 58% of employees earn $16.25 an hour. The union called for an increase in the hourly minimum wage to $18.23 in October and a minimum 4.5% increase this year to maintain Berkshire County’s cost of living.
In a statement, the museum said it would remain open and “negotiate in good faith.”
The museum announced on February 20 that it had made the highest offer, which included a 3.5% across-the-board salary increase, some stock increases of more than 5% on average, and a minimum wage of $17.25 per hour.
“We deeply regret the United Auto Workers’ decision to take action against MASS MoCA in the form of an indefinite strike and reject our wage increase proposal,” President Christy Edmunds said in a statement. Ta.
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In three years, she said, “we implemented capital increases at every level, continued to beat the federal minimum wage, ensured there was no disruption to health and retirement benefits, and improved student loan and senior citizen programs.” We have funded a variety of innovative employee assistance programs, including: and childcare offset. ”
