Workers at the American Folk Art Museum in New York City, represented by UAW Local 2110, picketed the museum's annual gala at the Mandarin Oriental in Manhattan on May 6, 2026. They demanded higher wages and better benefits after contract negotiations stalled for nearly two years. Frontline workers earn $19 per hour, about $12,000 below the city's living wage, while the museum's CEO Jason Busch earned $321,882 in 2024. The union requested a three-year contract raising wages to $30 per hour, but management offered only $21.50 and refused to guarantee existing benefits, leading to the protest.
The protest matters because it highlights ongoing labor tensions in the art world, where museum staff often struggle with low wages despite institutions raising significant funds. The American Folk Art Museum's gala was expected to raise several hundred thousand dollars, yet workers argue the museum is not prioritizing fair compensation. This action follows similar demonstrations at MoMA PS1 two years ago, reflecting a broader movement among cultural workers for living wages and union protections. The outcome could set a precedent for labor negotiations at smaller museums.