LACMA's Staff Union Vote: A Turning Point for Arts Institutions
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) staff has voted overwhelmingly in favor of starting a union, joining a growing trend of arts institutions across the country to prioritize worker rights and collective representation. For Sierra Schiano, an education department staffer who spearheaded the unionization effort, it's a long-overdue move to address structural issues that have plagued the museum for years.
Staff burnout, precarity, and lack of transparency are among the key concerns driving the push toward collective action. With a reliance on part-time labor in its educational programs, LACMA struggles to maintain consistency and stability in staffing levels. Teaching Artists and Education Assistants often face variable hours, limited job security, and uncertain income – leading to high turnover rates that strain an already small team.
Schiano acknowledges the role of systemic issues, such as a federal administration hostile to arts institutions, but emphasizes that unionization is a necessary step in protecting worker rights. By joining forces, staff can pool their resources, share expertise, and advocate for more sustainable work arrangements, better benefits, and increased transparency in decision-making processes.
The vote marks a significant moment in the museum world, as similar efforts are underway at institutions like the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Jewish Museum, the Whitney, Brooklyn Museum, and others. With unionization on the rise, arts organizations can no longer rely solely on internal initiatives to address these pressing issues.
For Schiano and her colleagues, the outcome is a welcome respite from years of frustration. "I feel like there's so much more we could be doing to bring arts education to communities throughout L.A. if we had the budget and stability to expand and experiment," she said. The union will play a critical role in shaping these efforts, ensuring that staff voices are heard and their concerns addressed.
As Schiano looks to the future, she emphasizes the importance of collective action in the face of systemic challenges. "I trust my colleagues, and I believe in collective action... We can build a better world together, one unionized workplace at a time." With the LACMA staff now united behind a shared vision, the possibilities for positive change are vast – and the fight for arts institutions' rights has just gained a powerful new voice.
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) staff has voted overwhelmingly in favor of starting a union, joining a growing trend of arts institutions across the country to prioritize worker rights and collective representation. For Sierra Schiano, an education department staffer who spearheaded the unionization effort, it's a long-overdue move to address structural issues that have plagued the museum for years.
Staff burnout, precarity, and lack of transparency are among the key concerns driving the push toward collective action. With a reliance on part-time labor in its educational programs, LACMA struggles to maintain consistency and stability in staffing levels. Teaching Artists and Education Assistants often face variable hours, limited job security, and uncertain income – leading to high turnover rates that strain an already small team.
Schiano acknowledges the role of systemic issues, such as a federal administration hostile to arts institutions, but emphasizes that unionization is a necessary step in protecting worker rights. By joining forces, staff can pool their resources, share expertise, and advocate for more sustainable work arrangements, better benefits, and increased transparency in decision-making processes.
The vote marks a significant moment in the museum world, as similar efforts are underway at institutions like the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Jewish Museum, the Whitney, Brooklyn Museum, and others. With unionization on the rise, arts organizations can no longer rely solely on internal initiatives to address these pressing issues.
For Schiano and her colleagues, the outcome is a welcome respite from years of frustration. "I feel like there's so much more we could be doing to bring arts education to communities throughout L.A. if we had the budget and stability to expand and experiment," she said. The union will play a critical role in shaping these efforts, ensuring that staff voices are heard and their concerns addressed.
As Schiano looks to the future, she emphasizes the importance of collective action in the face of systemic challenges. "I trust my colleagues, and I believe in collective action... We can build a better world together, one unionized workplace at a time." With the LACMA staff now united behind a shared vision, the possibilities for positive change are vast – and the fight for arts institutions' rights has just gained a powerful new voice.
gotta love that LACMA staff is finally taking matters into their own hands... about time those part-time laborers got some decent hours and benefits 
, not to mention actual job security 
. it's crazy how arts institutions are only now realizing the importance of prioritizing worker rights – systemic issues have been neglected for far too long 
. i mean, who doesn't love a good underdog story? 
schiano and her crew better be ready for some serious negotiating power 
... can't wait to see what changes come out of this union 
this is like finally something that makes sense... all those ppl talkin bout artists & creatives havin to struggle just to make ends meet, it's not rocket science, you know? unionization is key! now we might see some real changes @ LACMA and maybe even inspire others 2 do the same 
They're finally doin it! Like, I've been sayin' this for ages, arts institutions gotta start takin care of their staff. Burnout's real, fam, and it's not somethin you can just ignore. I'm so hyped they're unionizin, it's about time they got some stability and security in the workplace. 
The fact that Sierra Schiano is leadin this charge makes me proud, she's a total boss. This is just the beginnin of somethin big, we'll see more arts institutions gettin their act together and prioritizin staff rights. 
! i mean, can you believe lacma's staff actually got to unionize? like, it's about time, you know? they've been dealing with burnout and precarity for years, and now they finally get a say in how things are run. it's like, the future of arts education is literally in their hands 
but anyway back to this LACMA stuff i'm kinda glad they're getting unionized, i mean staff burnout is no joke 
especially with them having part-time labor in ed programs... that's wild how much money arts institutions are making yet still can't pay their employees decently 
It feels like those days were actually happening... Now, LACMA staff unionizing is the real deal! 
They're finally standing up for themselves against burnout, precarity, and lack of transparency. I mean, it's not like they didn't try before, but sometimes you gotta take matters into your own hands, right? 
It's time for arts institutions to get their act together, you know? 