Campaigns

Demonstrate Against Sotheby's

At Sotheby's Auction House in New York, a group of 40 workers - mostly people of color - have been locked out of their jobs by an institution that caters to the decadence of the world's richest families, individuals and corporations; and, whose Board of Directors includes the likes of James Murdoch. For more information about the lock out, which has passed the 60th day, visit www.SothebysBadForArt.com. Once again, the world's wealthy have returned to the time-honored tactic attempting to starve their workers into submission.

Sotheby's hired the notorious union busting law firm, Jackson Lewis, to master mind their strategy. Their wealthy clientele sit on the boards of museums, ballet companies and operas. These favorite "charities"
controlled by New York's elite also serve as tax shelters while legitimate providers of government social services are being cut. One in five New Yorkers live in poverty and the number is even more dramatic for families of color.

One thing we have found in our campaign is that the wealthy elite do not want to be called out publicly. We have demonstrated and hand-billed their gala fundraisers and even key auctions. We believe that this is having an impact on Sotheby's. For this reason we are trying to demonstrate at other Sotheby's locations around the world.

On October 13th , Sotheby's London is conducting their biggest auction of the Fall season and we are asking the British labor movement to help us organize a spirited demonstration at Sotheby's so that all auction-goers will at least get a taste of the discomfort that the 40 families of locked-out workers feel by going without a paycheck for two months.

Thanks for any assistance.

Solidarity,

Andy Banks
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Director, Campaigns Unit
Deputy Director, Strategic Research and Campaigns Department