On Monday, Local 2110 of the United Auto Workers (UAW) filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to unionize roughly 1,000 salaried and hourly workers at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The union cites long-term pay inequities, lack of job protection, and increasing workloads as motivations. The Met currently has two smaller unions for security guards and projectionists, and a museum spokesperson expressed respect for the right to seek representation. Employees reportedly first reached out to Local 2110 in 2022, and the drive has gained momentum in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
If the vote passes, the Met would become one of the largest unionized museums in the United States, reflecting a broader trend of unionization across cultural institutions nationwide. The effort underscores ongoing tensions between museum administration and staff over wages, benefits, and decision-making transparency, especially amid large-scale capital projects. The announcement coincided with the Met revealing the Costume Institute's spring 2026 exhibition and naming Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos as lead sponsors of the 2026 Met Gala, highlighting the institution's dual focus on labor relations and high-profile fundraising.