BUFFALO, NY (THE WORLD TELEGRAM NEWS) – Demonstrators protesting recent efforts by the Buffalo AKG Museum to restructure its staff stood outside the university with inflatable balloons, and holding signs with slogans saying “Buffalo is a Union Town”, “Janne Sirén: Stop the Retaliatory Layoffs NOW!”, and “Union Busting is Disgusting”. Those WTN News spoke to, said they’d been there since 11am.
The demonstration follows the announcement that the museum plans to lay off 13 Visitor Experience Associates (VEX) in April, a significant portion of its workforce. According to a post on the Buffalo subreddit, “When we started our union, there were 41 VEX — the frontline workers engaging with visitors at the welcome desk and in the galleries. With these proposed layoffs, only 16 will remain.”. A demonstrator we spoke to alleges that they're replacing those positions with non-union security guards, and kiosks. Workers from the museum say the downsizing makes them fearful for their jobs, which they love.
The people were met with honks of support, and one cyclist yelled, “Go, Unions!”
The event's organizer, Casey Moore spoke to The World Telegram News, telling the publication "the museum is claiming they're doing this because of an operational shift to improve the visitor experience for guests and the community, but our point is, how is cutting half of the largest union department, the people who care about this institution and are knowledgable about the art, and know what is going on, how is that going to improve the visitor experience for everybody by cutting these people's jobs.", adding "It doesn't pass the smell test–their excuse for why they're doing it–It’s clearly union busting, and it’s unacceptable. So, we’re out here today to educate the public to say Buffalo is a union town and we don’t accept this kind of behavior here."
You can listen to the extended interview here:
Community members at the demonstration were also supportive of the outdoor demonstration, with one telling The World Telegram News’ Edvardi Jackson, “You can’t say you’re pro-arts and be anti-union”, with another demonstrator saying “We’re gonna continue to be out here until the museum decides to stop making mistakes like this”.
The World Telegram News reached out to Buffalo AKG Museum for comment, and are awaiting response.
