Council authorizes hearings on Philadelphia Museum of Art after union testimony alleging low pay and contract breaches

Philadelphia City Council on March 20 approved a privileged resolution authorizing hearings by the Committee on Legislative Oversight into the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s (PMA) status, operations and economic factors as the city prepares for major events in 2026. The resolution was introduced and moved by Councilmember Isaiah Thomas and was adopted by the full council.

Several PMA employees and union leaders addressed the council during public comment, describing low wages, extensive use of part-time positions, and alleged management resistance to implementing collectively bargained terms. Halsiani Shiller, who identified herself as a conservation technician and president of Local 397, told council the museum “has actively and continuously engaged in anti-union techniques, frequently acting as though we do not have a union or a contract at all.”

Union speakers gave detailed examples: Adam Mazika, recording secretary of Local 397, recounted visitor-services staffing levels and pay history; another witness, Matthew Carreri from conservation, said part-time hiring left staff without medical benefits and forced many to take other jobs. Jared Marswatch, an audio-visual technician, described the cultural and community value of the museum’s public programs and said low pay and unstable positions make long-term careers at the PMA unsustainable.

Why it matters: The PMA is a major cultural institution receiving public support; speakers said supporting arts means supporting the workers who make programming possible. Testimony included specific figures: a witness described a starting visitor-services rate raised to $16.75 after a three-week strike and noted the museum charges $1 per year in rent to the city, a fact raised during testimony about the institution's financial decisions.

Council action and next steps: The adopted resolution authorizes oversight hearings into the museum’s operations and finances and asks the committee to examine the institution’s stewardship and workforce practices. Councilmember Thomas noted concern about the workforce as the city prepares to “welcome the world” for upcoming events and asked the oversight committee to convene staff, trustees and labor representatives.

Ending: Union leaders indicated they would continue to press for improved wages, more full-time positions, and faithful administration of contract terms; councilmembers said the hearings will provide a forum to review funding, labor relations and public accountability at the PMA.