Whitney Museum staff set October 5 strike date

Unionized staff at the Whitney Museum of American Art have set a strike date for Monday, October 5, if a new contract agreement is not reached. The deadline arrives just days before the museum begins previews for a major Roy Lichtenstein retrospective, which is scheduled to open to the public on October 11.

The union, part of UAW Local 2110, previously authorized strike action in coordination with unions at the Brooklyn Museum and the American Folk Art Museum. The current negotiations follow the expiration of the museum’s inaugural three-year contract in June.

Staff members are advocating for a base salary for full-time employees that aligns with the estimated cost of living for a single, childless adult in New York City, which is approximately $71,000 annually. Additionally, the union is seeking to ensure that healthcare costs remain affordable for employees.