Hi Everyone!
Welcome to our first NYC Museum Workers Newsletter! We would like to share with you some of what's going on in the museum & cultural workers' community and what we've been working on this season!
We are moving forward with the museum and culture worker concerns you voiced last fall and spring. These concerns were organized and presented to NYC's Department of Cultural Affairs. The main topics were: Diversity, Anti-Racism, Equity; Job Security & Wages; Pandemic Preparedness, Unemployment Relief; Ethical Funding and Conduct; Self-Determination and Rights. Much of our happy hour strategy sessions this season were about the transformational power of workers within institutions and how we can create a more equitable future for all, including those working outside of cultural institutions. There are many paths forward: renouncing, restructuring, and reclaiming agency, building solidarity among labor movements and other art workers. We hope to continue this ongoing engagement and keep you updated on all the progress—and we encourage you to join us in this effort! (for more info on how to join the Organizing Committee see the "Organizational News" section below.)
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NYC Museum & Cultural Workers In the News:
In case you missed it, here are some of the highlights of museum workers making the headlines.
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Museum Unionization is still going strong in NYC! 🥂Happy organizing to everyone!
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Museum of Jewish Heritage Workers Hold Union Solidarity Event via DC37. June 23, 2021
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Museum of Jewish Heritage staff, management spar over a first contract by Rachel Hale via Forward. July 15, 2021
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Nearly 200 workers are involved in the union drive at the Whitney Museum by Ed Lederman via Artnews, June 1, 2021
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As Nonprofit Workers Push for Representation, Brooklyn Museum Staffers Have voted to Unionize by an Overwhelming Margin via by Sarah Cascone via Artnet. August 23, 2021.
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A belated congratulations to the Guggenheim workers who just go their contract and hats off to the Curators, Conservators, and Educators who have just announced their own unionizing effort! Respectively by... Hakim Bishara via Hyperallergic. February 16, 2021, and Nancy Kenney via The Art Newspaper. August 2, 2021.
- Hispanic Society Museum and Library in New York have voted to unionize with UAW Local 2110 joining Whitney and the Brooklyn Museum by Nancy Kenney via The Art Newspaper. July 26, 2021.
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Things Going On Outside of the City...
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Museum & Cultural Worker Relief and Resources
- Emergency Rental Assistance Program is still accepting applications for government assistance on rent owed 2020-2021 due to the pandemic. If you qualify you may receive a maximum of 12 months rent and utilities paid plus 3 future months. As an applicant, you have certain protections from eviction.
- The Creative Economy Revitalization Act (CERA) was proposed Friday, August 13th, 2021 in the House of Representatives by Representative Leger Fernandez (D-NM) and Representative Jay Obernolte, and is soon to be introduced in the Senate by Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM). CERA is a WPA-inspired jobs initiative that would put creative workers to work through commissions and grants, investing in local and rural communities, towns and cities from coast to coast.
- Art.coop has started study-into-action sessions each Friday in the fall, to discuss the solidarity economy. (Starting Sept 3rd, on a sliding scale basis)
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Culture Workers Perspectives
For Coalition Building and Direct Action, We Look to France’s Theater Workers…
Aside from the autonomous action earlier this year by Strike MoMa, there has not been a strong push against the re-opening of museums in light of all the issues within museums and in the arts sector in general. While a concerted effort was made by Strike MoMa to connect all communities in New York and abroad who were harmed directly and indirectly to the investments made by board members, there wasn’t a strong enough coalition made between them and the museum workers inside the museum—the source of worker power that can actually shut down a museum just by a simple walkout—(continue reading)
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'Culture Workers Perspectives' is our editorial section where we hear from NYC museum and cultural workers on issues relevant to them. Our first editorial is from a member of our organizing committee.
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Current & Up Coming!
We are happy to report that NYC Museum Workers Happy Hour has established an Organizing Committee, but we still welcome more members. We are inviting museum and cultural institution workers to join the committee on a seasonal or annual basis. Committee members can choose to organize the Happy Hour and other events, develop the newsletter, or advise and advocate directly for museum workers. If you are interested in joining the committee fill out this form or email us directly.
Too much going on at work? No worries, but do invite your co-workers to join our mailing list or follow us on social media to receive information about upcoming happy hours, events, and advocacy work!
Save the Date to our next Happy Hour Tuesday, September 21st: RSVP here!
Cheers!
-NYC Museum Workers Organizing Committee
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