Workers at the Hispanic Society of America in Manhattan signed their first union contract Friday, May 19, ending a long two-month streak to hit. Museum professionals (about 20 people) unionized with UAW Local 2110 in the summer of 2021 after museum management eliminated its pension plan. Workers had long accepted lower wages in exchange for a pension and free health care.
Contract negotiations began in September 2021. Since then, Local 2110 has filed five unfair labor practice charges against the museum. Union-busting allegations emerged when museum offered to keep current employees’ free healthcare plans but demanded new workers pay 10% to 25% of the insurance premium. Under the newly signed contract, existing employees and new employees who earn less than $85,000 will receive fully paid health care. Embedded workers who earn more than that will pay 5% to 15% of their premiums and the museum will cover the deductibles.
“We are pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached that best serves the interests of our community and our staff,” said a Hispanic Society spokesperson. Hyperallergic. “We are excited to move forward in a positive way that will benefit the Hispanic Society Museum and Library in the future.”
Among other provisions, the contract provides for increases and minimum wage increases of an average of 18.2% retroactive to January 19, 2023; a new 403(b) employer contribution plan; severance pay; and a $500 professional development fund for workers.
The Hispanic Society, a predominantly Spanish and Portuguese art museum, is in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. It has been closed to the public for renovations since 2017 (except for a small exhibition space) and will reopen on May 25, a spokesperson said. The museum failed to pay unionized workers during the prolonged strike. The employees received $500 from the Local 2110 strike fund and additional income from a “hardship fund”.
Patrick Lenaghan, curator of prints and photographs who has worked at the institution for 28 years, said Hyperallergic that the union was able to “preserve fully paid health benefits for the vast majority of the union.”
“I think it’s a good contract and a solid base to build on,” said Lenaghan, who added that many workers hadn’t received a raise since 2018 and that the new contract increased the wages. salaries of some of the lowest paid workers in the unit.
“We’re a small team and we’ve always been close, but our solidarity grew stronger during the strike, and that got us through this together,” Lenaghan continued. “I think we’re coming back as a stronger team looking forward to our work.”
Local 2110 has yet to respond to requests for clarification on the specifics of the new contract, including who will continue to receive free health care.
