According to a number of publications and most recently the New York Times, there is often a huge disparity between the compensation of museum executives and the many folks who do the day-to-day work. This disparity is now coming to a head with the formation of unions. Yes, unions have been in nonprofits for a long time but not for every sector and within each sector, not for every nonprofit. Museums in particular have not been a part of the union rank and file for pretty much ever. But this is changing and several notable institutions like the Guggenheim are now union shops. The goal: change the compensation disparity.
And where does the problem lie? I would pose that it is the nonprofit boards of these institutions, most often individuals who at minimum have never missed a meal, who approve the annual budget and choose to compensate their CEO's at fair levels while not paying attention to the plight of those who dedicate their talents to telling the stories that make museums destinations for millions of individuals. So, while it will be the execs who will negotiate with the unions, it will be the boards who must approve the terms and principles, according to their values. Let's hope those values include employees - often a stated value in the compendium of principles that a board develops to guide the museum.
Here's the NY Times article.