Manhattan School of Music Precollege Faculty Union Authorizes Strike Action

By Afton Markay

The faculty union at New York City’s Manhattan School of Music’s Precollege division has voted for a strike authorization.

In 2024, the school’s precollege faculty launched a petition calling for their salary to be brought in line with the industry standard for pre-college music teaching in NYC. The petition garnered nearly 2,000 signatures.

According to the petition, staff pay rates have fallen to nearly half of the current rates at similar institutions, such as The Juilliard School and the Mannes School of Music. Some members have left their teaching roles in regards to the “unwillingness to pay its employees fairly” and handling of the collective bargaining process.

Six months after their contracts expired, faculty members voted 98 percent to two percent in favor of a walk-out if contract negotiations continue to stagnate. This decision comes six months after the contract expired, and is the first strike authorization in the school’s 100-year history. The seventh bargaining session is scheduled mid-Jan.

Faculty union president Adam Kent is quoted saying, “This is a proud moment for ARTS-MSM because virtually our entire membership has banded together to say ‘enough is enough’ to the School’s exploitative behavior. On the other hand, it’s a sad time for all of us who love Manhattan School of Music, precisely because we see no alternative but to take this extraordinary step.”

New York City’s Manhattan School of Music is represented by the ARTS-MSM Precollege Faculty Union, Local 6498 NYSUT.

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