Whitney Museum Union Sets Strike Date Ahead of Major Roy Lichtenstein Show

The union representing staff at the Whitney Museum of American Art has set a strike date of October 5th, unless they secure a contract deemed fair by them. This decision follows a vote earlier in the month, where the museum and unions from the Brooklyn Museum and American Folk Art Museum joined forces. The strike deadline aligns with the preview period for Roy Lichtenstein's retrospective exhibition, which begins on October 11th.

The initial three-year contract between the Whitney and its workforce, organized under UAW Local 2110, concluded in June this year. During this agreement, wages for entry-level employees rose from $17 to $24 per hour. The new contract also introduced enhanced job security measures, additional professional development opportunities, revised employee benefit contributions, and stronger environmental safety protocols.

However, the current negotiations focus on raising the base salary for full-time staff to a level that would allow a single, childless individual to afford a sustainable lifestyle in New York City. A recent City Hall report determined that this figure should be around $71,000 annually.