New York Transit Museum Workers Win Union Recognition with DC 37

NEW YORK— Today, workers at the New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn voted unanimously in favor of forming a union with District Council 37 AFSCME. The workers will join thousands of DC 37 members across New York City’s cultural institutions who have fought for and won recognition to secure better wages and workplace protections for themselves and their colleagues.

After museum management at the Friends of Transit denied their request for voluntary union recognition, the organizing committee publicly announced their campaign for unionization as the Transit Museum Collective with DC 37 on Feb. 4. The petition for election was filed with the National Labor Relations Board on March 10.

“It’s clear these workers are passionate about carrying out the museum’s mission, and they have done an incredible job fighting for their right to unionize,” said Henry Garrido, Executive Director of District Council 37. “We’re proud to welcome the New York Transit Museum Collective to the DC 37 family and look forward to continuing the momentum as we bargain a first contract for fair wages and dignity in the workplace.”

The new union members work in full- and part-time museum education and visitor experience titles. The New York Transit Museum, which was founded in 1976, has a prestigious reputation due to the commitment of its workers who tell the story of urban public transportation systems in the New York metropolitan region through extensive collections, exhibits, research, and educational programs.

DC 37 is New York City’s largest public employee union, representing 150,000 workers and 50,000 retirees. As the preeminent union for museum workers, DC 37 represents members at iconic cultural institutions like the American Museum of Natural History, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum and Brooklyn Children’s Museum.

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District Council 37 is New York City’s largest public employee union, with 150,000 members and 89,000 retirees. Visit us at www.dc37.nyc.