The Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) Union, which achieved a hard-won contract last fall after a 19-day strike, is alleging that the museum has reneged on a mutually agreed-upon compensation provision. According to the union, PMA CEO Sasha Suda and General Counsel Al Suh communicated in a union leadership meeting yesterday, June 29, that the museum would not honor the specified terms of a “longevity pay increase” that will impact employees across departments.
As one of five major museum compromises outlined in the contract, the longevity pay increases schedule was originally meant to reward both full- and part-time employees with incremental salary bumps of $500 and $250, respectively, for every five years of employment at the institution (for up to 20 years). Under this structure, a full-time employee (working more than 25 hours per week) would have an additional $1,000 added to their annual base rate for their 10-year employment anniversary, and a part-time employee (fewer than 25 hours per week) would receive an additional $500 for their 10-year employment anniversary. If an employee has been working at the museum for over 20 years, they would receive retroactive longevity increases.
Now, the PMA has allegedly indicated that effective July 1, the longevity clause would only be applicable to employees whose employment anniversaries fell within the three-year lifespan of the contract and that these increases would consist of standalone $500 or $250 bumps rather than cumulative amounts. This means that an employee with a 15-year employment anniversary would get the same $500 or $250 as an employee with a five-year anniversary, rather than an increase commensurate with years employed.
“This interpretation is nonsensical; it will also have the opposite effect of the intent of the provision,” the PMA Union said in a statement. “Instead of rewarding employees equitably and fairly for their service, management will be causing even greater inequity and confusion to prevail in the museum’s pay structure.”
The PMA has not yet responded to Hyperallergic’s request for comment.
“Emotions are strong,” PMA Union President Adam Rizzo told Hyperallergic. “Everyone is disappointed that all of this talk and these promises have essentially led to a regression on the museum’s part.” He also noted that this decision follows the museum’s announcement last week about raising admission prices and parking rates for increased revenue.
Rizzo said the contract is in full effect otherwise, and that it included a no-strike/no-walk-out clause. “We’ve commenced our three-step grievance process, and if that fails, we’re prepared for arbitration,” Rizzo said. “That would likely take place in winter, though, so it’s a long and drawn-out process.”
In the meantime, the union has other actions in mind to apply pressure on the museum, including informational pickets, rallies, email campaigns, and a petition that will be presented to the museum management and Board. Rizzo encouraged empathetic supporters to voice their concerns and disappointment to the museum via email or onsite. Some supporters mentioned on social media that they would not be withdrawing their memberships to the museum in solidarity with the union.
“We’ve never asked members to withdraw their memberships, but that was a powerful motion during our strike,” Rizzo mentioned.
