Workers for the nonprofit artist resource organization New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) announced their intent to form a union today, Tuesday, September 10, citing a lack of transparency within the organization and the need for higher wages, among other grievances.The newly formed NYFA Union would join United Auto Workers Local 2110, which represents workers at major art institutions in New York City, including the Guggenheim Museum, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art. The union claims that NYFA would be the first “arts service organization” to be represented by the union. Hyperallergic has contacted NYFA for comment.Headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, NYFA was established in 1971 to provide support and resources to artists and cultural workers. Since it opened its doors, the organization says it has distributed $55 million to nearly 1,000 artists. It hosts a competitive immigrant artist mentoring program that includes an opportunity to showcase work in an annual exhibition held at New York Live Arts. NYFA also distributes cash grants for artists facing medical emergencies and provides professional development in arts entrepreneurship.“We envision a world in which creatives are valued and are able to build fulfilling, sustainable lives and careers,” Kelly Olshan, who works on NYFA’s professional development team, said in a statement shared with Hyperallergic. “This mission should apply internally to NYFA staff.”The new NYFA Union filed a petition for an election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) this morning, a step that represents one possible path to formal recognition. Employees of any workplace who wish to unionize may seek voluntary recognition from their employer if a majority of employees sign a union card, or the group can go directly to the NLRB to hold an election, and if successful, the employer is required by law to bargain with the union.Director of Organizing for UAW Local 2110 Maida Rosenstein told Hyperallergic that the union would accept a card count instead of an official election if NYFA recognized the union, but that they simultaneously filed the NLRB petition and notified management of their intent.“Decisions are made that actually affect their jobs, and also their job security, with a lack of transparency,” Rosenstein told Hyperallergic. Ultimately, Rosenstein said, staff want the ability to negotiate their economic terms collectively. Maida said about 20 employees are eligible to join the new union, including both part-time and full-time staff.Rosenstein said she has noted an uptick in unionizations among professional and administrative staff of nonprofit organizations in recent years, which she attributes to the political climate.“[They’re] discovering unionization, and are seeking unionization so that they have a greater voice in the workplace,” Rosenstein said. “Especially in these times, it’s important to be organized in the workplace and elsewhere.”