Bus & Truck Touring Negotiations: Employers Threaten to Cancel Upcoming Season, Refuse To Counter Union Proposals

[Voter]

Posted: 6/9/23 at 4:23pm

https://iatse.net/bus-truck-touring-negotiations-employers-threaten-to-cancel-upcoming-season-refuse-to-counter-union-proposals/

 

NEW YORK, NY — The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) has been negotiating the Bus and Truck Touring Agreement with Big League Productions Inc., NETworks Presentations LLC, Crossroads Live North America, LLC (f/k/a Troika Entertainment, LLC) and Work Light Productions, LLC. Despite early progress and months of negotiations, the employers have repeatedly threatened to cancel the upcoming fall season if the union does not capitulate to unreasonable demands. Now, these employers refuse to counter the union’s proposals, bringing negotiations to a screeching halt even though several weeks remain before the current contract is set to expire.

The workers represented under this agreement regularly face grueling working conditions on the road. They provide top-tier entertainment across America, and their commitment to their crafts should be reflected by the wages and conditions they deserve. Regrettably, workers’ sacrifices and commitments are not recognized in this way. These negotiations must address the workers’ core priorities in order for the members to ratify a new contract. The workers have made it abundantly clear from the beginning — this contract must achieve better wages, per diem, and single occupancy lodging to ensure these devoted workers can rest and recover between stops.

Rather than acknowledging the intensity of life on the road and valuing the workers who deliver extraordinary theatrical productions to audiences nationwide, these employers have repeatedly issued comments threatening the upcoming touring season. This stance illustrates a disconcerting focus on profit margins over a commitment to the art of theater. IATSE strongly condemns these thinly-veiled threats and remains dedicated to protecting and promoting the rights of our workers, and protecting the cultural institution that is touring theater.

Despite these challenges, IATSE remains steadfastly committed to achieving a fair and equitable agreement before June 30, 2023. We will continue to urge these employers to consider our requests at the negotiating table, and work collaboratively towards an agreement that prioritizes the well-being of the dedicated workers they employ and the entertainment of enthusiastic audiences around the country.

# # #

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees or IATSE (full name: International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada), is a labor union representing over 168,000 technicians, artisans and craftspersons in the entertainment industry, including live events, motion picture and television production, broadcast, and trade shows in the United States and Canada.

For more information please contact:
General: [e-mail]
Press: [e-mail]

[Voter]

Posted: 6/9/23 at 4:23pm

By the way, the entire CFA non eq tour was just cancelled because of this.... #ASKIFITSEQUITY

[MatthewS1]

Posted: 6/9/23 at 4:30pm

Was the entire CFA tour cancelled? My understanding is that the early dates of the tour were postponed. Hoping to catch it when it comes to St. Louis in November.

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 6/9/23 at 4:47pm

The CFA non-eq tour has been put on hold.

Rehearsals were due to start soon. People involved have been notified that this start date won’t be happening. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/9/23 at 5:15pm

Who was producing the non-equity CFA tour?

 

I saw all dates are off of the show's website. However, the State Theater in New Brunswick, NJ is still advertising the show which is scheduled for January.

Updated On: 6/9/23 at 05:15 PM

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 6/9/23 at 5:31pm

I think it’s NETworks producing CFA… could be wrong… 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/9/23 at 6:12pm

Hershey, PA has Come From Away tickets still available for sale and it is scheduled to stop there from Aug 1-6, 2023

[stoptheworld38]

Posted: 6/9/23 at 8:14pm

CFA tour still listed/advertised for January in my city (Burlington, VT) with tickets currently on sale as part of subscription packages. It’s my favorite show so fingers crossed they’ll only have to postpone the beginning of the tour and can figure the situation out by then… 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/9/23 at 8:46pm

Good. All the Non Eq tours are awful. Same amount of work for the 1/3rd of the pay for the entertainer and the same pay for the audience. Trash. 

[whatever2]

Posted: 6/9/23 at 9:04pm

surely we all can allow that some local venues are not able to update their websites in real time ..

[JacobHaskell388]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 4:11pm

It will be a shame if the upcoming tours are cancelled over this. I know everyone feels stuck between a rock and a hard place, but I sure hope that they are able to come to an agreement and continue with the touring season.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 5:49pm

Imagine all of the theaters that bring in non-equity tours, even just for one night, now having to refund tickets. Hopefully this gets resolved sooner than later.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 5:55pm

For those talking about tours that are MONTHS from now, I'm guessing the plan is (once/if this gets settled) that they would pick up as scheduled and then try to reschedule only whatever is affected by the delay.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 7:28pm

The COME FROM AWAY tour has canceled or postponed all stops up to October 5. They're currently planning to start the tour in St. Paul, MN now on Oct. 6.

[MatthewS1]

Posted: 6/14/23 at 8:31pm

ACL2006 said: "The COME FROM AWAY tour has canceled or postponed all stops up to October 5. They're currently planning to start the tour in St. Paul, MN now on Oct. 6."

The Ordway in St. Paul just rescheduled their run to June. Looks like it will be starting even later.

[MatthewS1]

Posted: 6/27/23 at 2:07pm

One of the venues that was supposed to present Come From Away in September just posted on Facebook that their run was rescheduled because of "late negotiations between the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) and producers of bus-and-truck national tours". A tentative agreement was reached last Monday, June 19th, and will be voted on the week of July 3rd. Fingers crossed that the deal is fair and will be approved!

Updated On: 6/27/23 at 02:07 PM

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 6/27/23 at 4:05pm

I'm curious about this because Mean Girls also hasn't announced it's non-eq cast, and the casting call said rehearsals start in August? Isn't that cutting it close? 

[jakethesnake]

Posted: 6/27/23 at 4:15pm

hearthemsing22 said: "I'm curious about this because Mean Girls also hasn't announced it's non-eq cast, and the casting call said rehearsals start in August? Isn't that cutting it close?"

If rehearsals start in August, then they have until July 31 to cast the show.  I don't think press releases for non-union tours sell tickets.

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 6/27/23 at 4:17pm

jakethesnake said: "hearthemsing22 said: "I'm curious about this because Mean Girls also hasn't announced it's non-eq cast, and the casting call said rehearsals start in August? Isn't that cutting it close?"

If rehearsals start in August, then they have until July 31 to cast the show. I don't think press releases for non-union tours sell tickets."

I'm not in the group who would know about casting turn around, so thank you! It could be next month before they tell us. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/27/23 at 6:02pm

If everything is clear, then the COME FROM AWAY tour would start up in Columbia, SC on Oct. 17.

 

The following stops were rescheduled:

• Hershey, PA: Dec. 26-31, 2023
• Boston, MA: May 28 - June 2, 2024
• Iowa City, IA: June 4-6, 2024
• St. Paul, MN: June 7-16, 2024
• Auburn, AL: June 18-20, 2024
• College Station, TX: June 25-26, 2024
• Little Rock, AR: Aug 2-4, 2024

The stops in Cleveland & Springfield (MO) have not been rescheduled.