Guggenheim NY union workers vote to authorize strike
Workers at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, represented by Local 2110 of the UAW, have overwhelmingly voted in favor of a strike, with 93% supporting the action as contract negotiations have stalled. Talks have been underway since December 2025 after the previous contract expired. In February 2025, the museum cut 20 positions, or about 7% of its workforce, and appointed Melissa Chiu, previously of the Hirshhorn Museum, as the new director. The union is pushing for a three-year deal with annual raises of 5% and 4.25%, plus lower healthcare costs for those earning under $75,000. The museum's offer includes a four-year contract with a smaller 3% retroactive raise for 2026. There’s no strike deadline yet, but recent strikes at similar institutions are noteworthy.
Key facts
- 93% of UAW Local 2110 members voted to authorize a strike at the Guggenheim.
- Negotiations for a new contract have been ongoing since December 2025.
- The museum laid off 20 employees (7% of workforce) in February 2025.
- Melissa Chiu was hired as the new Guggenheim director in spring 2026.
- Entry-level salary is $49,920; half of staff earn under $71,000.
- Union proposes 5% and 4.25% annual raises; museum offers 3% retroactive and 2.75%.
- NYC inflation was 5.1% year-over-year in May 2026.
- Workers unionized in 2021 and ratified first contract in 2023.
Entities
Artists
- Drew Reynolds
- Anton Sherin
- Carol Bove
Institutions
- Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
- Local 2110 of the United Auto Workers (UAW)
- Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
- The Art Newspaper
- Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art
- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
- International Union of Operating Engineers
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Guggenheim Museum
- UAW Local 2110
- National Labor Relations Board
- Guggenheim Foundation
- Hyperallergic
Locations
- New York
- United States
- New York City