UPDATED: 9/17/22, 12:24 p.m.
A museum spokesperson told KYW Newsradio, "The museum has been bargaining in good faith with the union, and remains committed to making progress toward a collective bargaining agreement. We are disappointed that the union has chosen to file an unfair labor practice with the National Labor Relations Board. The museum strenuously disagrees with the union’s assertions in the filing and looks forward to responding to the charge."
ORIGINAL STORY FOLLOWS:
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — More than 100 unionized workers at the Philadelphia Museum of Art are participating in a one-day strike to warn management that failure to meet workers’ demands could result in further action.
Union members were on the picket line at the museum entrances, across the street at the administration offices and at the Rodin Museum down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
The Art Museum remained open during the action.
The workers organized in Aug of 2020 and two years later there is still no contract. Last month 99% voted in favor of a strike.
“I’m disappointed with the museum’s refusal to move on certain issues,” said Adam Rizzo, a museum educator and president of the PMA Union. “I think an institution like this, with a $60 million annual budget and a $600 million endowment, should not have workers that have to work two jobs.”
He says the members want better pay and benefits, to reinstate full-time positions instead of filling them with part-time workers and contractors, and to remedy unfair labor practices.
“A couple of weeks ago, we filed unfair labor practice charges against the museum because of their behavior at the bargaining table. One of the big issues is that they’ve been slowly rehiring people after the major layoffs that happened in 2020, but they are re-hiring folks into temps and contract positions — which is unacceptable because these were previously full-time, permanent positions.”
Some visitors, like Ika Hamzah of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, opted not to go inside the museum, out of respect for the striking workers, and considered coming back another day. Hamzah had a ticket, but when she found out what was going on, she decided to stay outside.
“In my country, we don’t have unions. I think everyone just works because they have to work,” Hamzah said, “but I do understand why people have unions and why they go on strike. But I think it’s just a bit unfair for them.”
Others, like Victor Perrotti, had no idea the strike was happening. He said he didn’t expect it to interrupt his visit.
“I mean, I support union workers, and I support the workers, however, I probably will never be back in Philly again, and this was the first time I’ve been here, and this is one of my main destinations, so I will go inside.”
The Philadelphia Museum of Art issued a statement Friday, reading:
"The museum remains open to the public and is committed to serving our community. When eligible staff voted to unionize, we immediately and unequivocally pledged to negotiate in good faith and we have done so. The museum has devoted significant time and energy to the negotiations, and we have made considerable progress, reaching agreement on more than 25 substantive issues. We are disappointed that the union has chosen to strike, but we remain focused on reaching a fair and appropriate contract with the union."