Strike Begins September 26

PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART WORKERS ANNOUNCE STRIKE BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 26

For immediate release: September 23, 2022

(Philadelphia, PA) On Monday, September 26, AFSCME DC47, Local 397, PMA Union will go out on strike at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Union members will not report to work in person at the museum or virtually. 

This action should come as no surprise to the Board of Trustees and executive management of the museum. In the past month, union members have voted by 99% to authorize the Local 397 executive board to call a strike, filed a lengthy Unfair Labor Practice charge against museum management, and held a one-day warning strike on Friday September 16. Our message has been clear: remedy the Unfair Labor Practices and come to the bargaining table with serious offers.

Museum management has failed to take meaningful action on the issues most important to our membership.

“After two years of negotiations, our membership cannot accept further stalling and union-busting. We had hoped the museum’s appointment of a new Director and CEO, Sasha Suda, would signal a change in tone and that she would be more involved in helping us reach a fair agreement. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened. If the choice is between accepting the status quo or going on strike, we choose to strike. It’s up to museum management to present a better option.” - Local 397 President Adam Rizzo

Important issues that remain on the table include improving wages and reducing the costs of healthcare. Museum management has yet to make an offer at the bargaining table that improves union members’ healthcare plans, which are so expensive that the vast majority of members can’t afford high quality health insurance. Management’s pay proposals do nothing to address the documented gap between PMA’s low wages and the standard of pay at peer museums. 

“Our members will not accept a contract that does not bring wages and benefits at the museum up to an acceptable standard. If Board Chair Leslie Anne Miller and COO Bill Petersen believe we will accept less if they drag this process out long enough, they are sorely mistaken. The past two years have only strengthened this workforce’s resolve and solidarity. We are ready for what a strike means; are they?.” - Cathy Scott, DC47 President