Union Criticizes Planned Layoffs at Brooklyn Museum
# Brooklyn Museum Plans Staff Layoffs Amid Budget Deficit, Union Reports
The Brooklyn Museum is reportedly preparing to implement staff layoffs due to financial difficulties, according to Local 1502, a branch of the District Council 37 union representing workers at the institution. The news has raised concerns among museum employees, particularly given recent wage increases and ongoing financial mismanagement allegations.
## **Union Alleges Violation of Contract Terms**
Wilson Souffrant, the president of Local 1502, disclosed that he was informed of the planned layoffs just a day before an all-staff meeting scheduled for February 7. The timing and manner of the announcement have fueled accusations that the museum violated a contract clause requiring prior notification to the union ahead of such decisions.
Souffrant revealed that the union had already initiated a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) but has yet to receive a response. “They’ve decided to keep the union in the dark and lay off anybody they want,” Souffrant stated.
## **Uncertain Impact on Staff and Leadership**
While the exact number of workers affected remains unclear, layoffs may extend beyond Local 1502 and include members of Local 2110 UAW, another union representing Brooklyn Museum employees. Whether higher-level leadership positions will be affected by the cuts is also uncertain.
The museum attributed the layoffs to a growing budget deficit, which was projected at $9 million in a staff meeting last July. At the time, museum officials estimated that they would be able to stabilize the deficit within the next three to four years.
A statement from District Council 37 criticized the museum’s leadership for its handling of financial resources. “The Museum’s financial mismanagement and failure to adequately plan for non-staffing costs should not fall on the shoulders of union staff,” the statement read.
## **Museum Leadership Shake-Up**
Adding to the turbulence, two senior leaders recently departed from the institution. Anne Pasternak, the museum’s director, announced in December that Chief Operating Officer Kimberly Panicek Trueblood and Chief People Officer Allison Avery were stepping down. Trueblood reportedly earned over $330,000 in the 2023 fiscal year, according to publicly available tax filings.
The institutional instability comes on the heels of a tumultuous year at the Brooklyn Museum, marked by employee concerns and controversies. In 2023, the museum faced backlash over its handling of worker rights and its response to protests that targeted museum leaders’ homes with anti-Zionist graffiti following a pro-Palestine demonstration.
## **National Implications for Workers’ Rights**
The Brooklyn Museum layoffs come amid growing concerns over labor rights at a national level. President Donald Trump’s recent decision to remove the general counsel and a Democratic board member from the NLRB has effectively stalled the agency’s operations. This move has raised alarms among workers nationwide, as labor complaints—such as the one filed by DC 37—could face significant delays in processing.
As the museum moves forward with its budget adjustments, workers and labor unions are calling for more transparency and fair treatment in the process. **Hyperallergic** has reached out to both the Brooklyn Museum and Local 2110 UAW for further comments.
### **Conclusion**
The Brooklyn Museum’s financial instability has prompted significant concern among its employees, particularly with the looming possibility of staff cuts. As workers seek support through union representation, the institution faces increasing scrutiny over its fiscal decisions and labor relations. The coming months will likely be crucial in determining both the museum’s financial recovery and the protection of labor rights within the cultural sector.
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