Representatives from the union that handles multi-million dollar works of art for Sotheby's auction house said Monday that the union’s members are being locked out over a contract dispute.

Members of Teamsters Local 814 said Sotheby's is asking for pay cuts and wants to change seniority rules even after posting profits of close to $700 million.

Company officials said the contract expired June 30 and they've been in talks with union workers since May.

Meanwhile, Sotheby's is using temporary workers.

Union members said it's dangerous to put works of art in inexperienced hands but that they had no choice.

"We are attempted to be strong-armed into accepting concessions that will negatively impact our families and our ability to provide for our families, and we just drew the line and we said no. We said we feel like we deserve a better shake than that," said Julian Tysh, art handler.

Officials from Sotheby's say the company offered workers a new contract last week, which the union rejected.