In 2010, Sotheby’s sales increased by 74 percent to $4.8 billion. And recently, Sotheby’s reported its most profitable quarter in the company’s 267-year history.
Despite record profits and growth, Sotheby’s refuses to negotiate a fair contract with its art handlers, members of the Teamsters union in the New York.
Instead of recognising and rewarding the contribution these workers have made to the company’s success, Sotheby’s has locked out its professional art handlers, kicking them into the street with no pay checks, while outsourcing their jobs to temporary workers. An all too familiar tale!
Meanwhile, Sotheby’s rewarded its CEO by nearly doubling his annual salary to almost $6 million.
Is Sotheby’s putting irreplaceable and fragile pieces of art at risk?
Auctioneers may sell the art, but art handlers are responsible for the transportation, preparation and display of each piece. Some of the locked out art handlers have more than 40 years of experience protecting art that sells for as much as $100 million. Replacing these workers with temporary workers is enough to make anyone scream.
Above is a video of of the demo at Sotheby’s, New Bond Street, London on October 13th
Vist the website, find out more about the dispute and how you can help here.
Sotheby’s discovers the cost of being anti-union
