DNAinfo points to a YouTube video that shows the locked out Sotheby’s art handlers and members of Occupy Wall Street confronting Diana Taylor, the partner of New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg and a member of the Sotheby’s board, at the December 1st meeting of the Hudson River Park Trust. Taylor is chairwoman on the board of directors of the group.

In the video, which is like manna from the gods for the art handers, shows Taylor in a Marie Antoinette moment as she claims that she will resign from the board if Sotheby’s accedes to any of the art handlers’ demands for a working wage. Teamsters Local 814 President Jason Ide, of the art handlers union, said in a statement:

“We are shocked at Taylor’s blatant disregard for working New Yorkers and their families … Living with Mike Bloomberg has clearly turned Taylor into an elitist with callous disregard for working families. It’s time someone gave her a wake-up call.”

Hrag Vartanian is editor-in-chief and co-founder of Hyperallergic.

5 replies on “Girlfriend of NY Mayor Tells Sotheby’s Art Handlers to Eat Cake”

  1. Sorry- refuse to make this just about her.  He was obnoxious, too….when you approach a situation without civility, you’re likely to get rudeness in response.  They all need to grow up.

    1. I understand what you are saying but this situation is quite different. Sotheby’s LOCKED OUT the art handlers and they refuse to negotiate. These people have families and a labor negotiator has told me he’s never seen a company that has been so stubborn about negotiations. Also, there is sever power inequality here. Taylor is in a position of power and she, as a result, should be scrutinized.

    2. nope. pretty clear here who’s acting out of honest grievance and who’s acting out of haughty disdain. we can wonder, though, whether she did feel backed against it and later wished her words were othewise.

    3. I don’t see his actions as obnoxious, but rather necessary at this point. From the beginning of the lock out, the art handlers picketed in a respectful manner, but that can only go on for so long before tensions rise. Things are heating up now because Sotheby’s refuses to even speak to the teamsters let alone negotiate with them, and Taylor’s callous response only further proves that they have no regard for how they are harming these hard-working and dedicated art handlers. Taylor and the heads at Sotheby’s deserve to be confronted in this way.

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