American Folk Art Museum Workers Stage Picket Protest Demanding Fair Wages Amid Contract Negotiation Standoff

Workers at the American Folk Art Museum Protest for Better Wages and Benefits

On the evening of May 6, staff members at the American Folk Art Museum in New York City took to the streets in a peaceful protest, rallying outside the museum’s annual gala held at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Columbus Circle. The demonstration was organized by members of UAW Local 2110, who are advocating for higher wages and improved benefits after nearly two years of stalled contract negotiations.

Details of the Picket and Public Demonstration

For two hours, unionized museum workers held signs bearing slogans like “For Folk’s Sake” and “Self Taught, Not Self Funded”. They chanted slogans such as “What’s disgusting? Union busting! What’s outrageous? Poverty wages!”. The protest aimed to draw attention to the ongoing issues related to fair compensation and working conditions at the museum.

Background: Why Are the Workers Protesting?

Staffers stated that their decision to protest was driven by the failure to reach a fair contract after negotiations had been ongoing since June 2024. The union, which represents frontline workers—including those greeting visitors, managing the gift shop, and maintaining the building—has been requesting a significant wage increase along with better benefits.

Currently, these workers earn approximately $19 per hour, totaling about $58,686 annually. This sum is roughly $12,000 below what MIT’s living wage calculator considers necessary for New York City. In comparison, maintenance workers at other nearby institutions, such as MoMA PS1, earn similar wages and have also participated in wage protests in recent years.

Disparities in Compensation and Leadership Salaries

Despite the low wages for staff, the museum’s CEO, Jason Busch, earned $321,882 during the 2024 fiscal year, according to tax filings. Union representatives have called for a three-year contract that would raise wages to $30 per hour by the end of that period. However, museum management only proposed raising wages to $21.50 per hour, without guaranteeing benefits like healthcare or flexible working arrangements.

Contract Negotiation Challenges and Museum Operations

Negotiations faced additional hurdles when the museum closed its 2 Lincoln Square location last fall for a six-month renovation funded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During this period, the museum eliminated several unionized positions and outsourced work to contractors, actions that union representatives describe as antagonistic and indicative of bad-faith bargaining.

Impact on Museum Staff and Community Response

Staff frustrations grew due to delays, high turnover, and the ongoing dispute. Ahead of the museum’s reopening on April 9 with a new exhibition titled Self-Made: A Century of Inventing Artists, workers distributed leaflets and staged protests to highlight their concerns. The protest at the gala was notably intimate, with several trustees and donors expressing support for the workers’ cause.

Statements from Museum Representatives

A museum spokesperson expressed respect for the staff’s right to unionize and affirmed their commitment to good-faith negotiations, though they did not disclose specific figures related to the gala’s fundraising efforts or the timeline for resolving contract issues.

Community and Cultural Significance

The demonstration underscores broader issues within arts organizations regarding fair wages and working conditions, especially in nonprofit cultural institutions. Union advocates hope that ongoing negotiations will lead to tangible improvements, ensuring that the museum can continue its educational and cultural missions supported by a satisfied and fairly compensated staff.