Covid-19, Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art leaves half of its employees at home. Contract suspended for 97

Even in the United States, the crisis due to the health emergency over the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic is hitting culture hard, and workers are beginning to be left at home. It’s happening at the Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles (MOCA), where management has decided to suspend the contracts of 97 workers (out of 185 who make up the staff of the museum, which does just under 300,000 visitors a year). In essence, MOCA has left more than half of its employees at home: the 97 who have seen their contracts suspended, the museum points out, are those who were working part time.

“We are facing extremely difficult circumstances caused by Covid-19,” the museum writes in a note. “The desire to support local public health, in accordance with government impositions, requires MOCA to take significant measures to protect the public and the future of the institution.” Hence, the choice of temporary layoffs for the 97 employees, who will return to work, MOCA announced, when the institution reopens. “All positions affected by the suspensions,” MOCA continued, “are those for which the museum’s opening is necessary, and they cannot work remotely.” MOCA will pay employees until the end of this month. Among the workers affected by the measure are hall assistants, education employees, bookshop workers, and service workers.

However, there are those among the workers who have raised controversy through the local press.MOCA, in fact, received a $10 million donation in 2019, thanks to which the museum, as of last January 11, had managed to make access free for all (previously, tickets cost $15). Some employees are now demanding that a portion of that amount be used to pay the salaries of those who have been forced to stay home.

Pictured: the MOCA in Los Angeles. Ph. Credit

Covid-19, Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art leaves half of its employees at home. Contract suspended for 97

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