Strike Authorized By Philly Art Museum Union Amid Contract Talks

PHILADELPHIA — The union representing workers at the Philadelphia Museum of Art has authorized a strike amid a nearly two-year contract dispute.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art Union Tuesday voted to authorize the strike, however a work stoppage has not yet been guaranteed.

Ninety-nine percent of members attending the meeting voted to OK the strike, per the union.

The vote was held just days after the union filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge against museum management on Friday.

"After massive layoffs, years without raises, and an ongoing pandemic, museum management expects us to accept meager raises, insufficient paid parental leave, and no improvements to our healthcare benefits whatsoever," Adam Rizzo, PMA Museum Educator and AFSCME Local 397 President, said. "We won’t. PMA Board Chair Leslie Anne Miller and COO Bill Petersen have the power to avert a strike: start respecting this Union, stop acting unilaterally in violation of federal labor law, and come to the table with real responses and a real commitment to reaching a fair resolution."

Since October 2020, the union and museum management have been working to reach a contract agreement.

In the Unfair Labor Practice filing, the union alleges museum management committed eight different violations of federal labor law and engaged in union-busting during the negotiations.

"The museum was disappointed to learn of the union’s vote to authorize a strike," a spokesperson for the museum said in a statement. "We value our staff and have always respected their right to organize and participate in the union. Accordingly, the museum has been bargaining in good faith with the union, and we remain committed to working toward a fair and appropriate collective bargaining agreement. To date, we have reached tentative agreements with the union on more than 25 substantive issues. We are scheduled to meet again with the union next week and hope to continue making progress in the negotiations."