Falling debris hurts workers at Golden Theater

Posted: 6/27/19 at 1:08pm

https://patch.com/new-york/midtown-nyc/falling-debris-hurts-3-workers-times-square-fdny-says?fbclid=IwAR24EXjuUyV2bvBbENEIxqsYxVd-C2rE5q5QM2oFnRaT6KbVOrjrTSi1n9o

[Relevance81491]

Posted: 6/27/19 at 10:24pm

what show was being loaded in?????

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 6/27/19 at 10:38pm

It wasn't a load-in. A load out had just finished (Hillary/Clinton, I think), and they were doing something called "restoration", where stage hands restore the theater to its previous state after a show has ended, and before the next one.

[macnyc]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 7:44am

https://nypost.com/2019/06/27/three-construction-workers-injured-by-falling-pipe-in-broadway-theater/

 

Wow, it sounds pretty bad. I hope they are on the mend soon. 

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 12:43pm

macnyc said: "https://nypost.com/2019/06/27/three-construction-workers-injured-by-falling-pipe-in-broadway-theater/



Wow, it sounds pretty bad. I hope they are on the mend soon."

Geez, they are lucky they are even alive. Hopefully they all recover quickly as possible. 

Updated On: 6/28/19 at 12:43 PM

[KKeller6]

Posted: 6/29/19 at 12:43am

3 guys got hurt pretty badly, but no injuries are life threatening now, and word is they are all on the road to recovery.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 7/3/19 at 8:15pm

The injuries are no longer life-threatening, but this was a life-changing and possibly career-ending accident. Without question, none of the three stagehands will be working any time soon, if ever again. Theater is often a dangerous business, especially for those who work behind the scenes.

Here's a gofundme set up for them.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/3/19 at 8:59pm

sorry but they don't need a gofundme. the union is their gofundme and they have been funding it since the day the signed on. That's outrageous. 

[OKBroadwayFan]

Posted: 7/4/19 at 9:16pm

HogansHero said: "sorry but they don't need a gofundme. the union is their gofundme and they have been funding it since the day the signed on. That's outrageous."

I agree with you this is absolutely a worker's comp situation and their bills will be paid 100%   

I do wish them a speedy recovery.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/4/19 at 9:54pm

TBC I am not saying that this is about workers' comp, which is basically a joke. But a union member, especially a stagehand, should not be in the position of looking for charity. I know there is insurance but if more is needed that's what the union should be dealing with. Looking for charity in that context is an embarrassment.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 7/5/19 at 11:05am

The Actor’s Fund is available for this exact sort of thing.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/5/19 at 12:51pm

no, the actors fund is intended primarily as a backup when "the safety net" (such as what one's union membership should and does provide) is not available. E.g., when someone is not working, retired, etc. This is a workplace injury to active workers.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 7/5/19 at 8:56pm

Then someone should tell the folks who administer the grants — they have a long history of providing supplemental funds to industry professionals who can’t work, whether it’s work-related or not.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/5/19 at 10:07pm

That's not the point. It's a disgrace that Local One lets its members become charity cases. Pathetic union when push comes to shove.

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 7/6/19 at 1:14am

Hogan, you've got no clue what you're talking about. The union of course sprung into action. However, there could be things that the union can't pay for in full. Say, for arguments sake extra care or rehab. They may help foot the bill on things like that, but not pay for the full amount. Furthermore, there are other things to think of. Such as, the stagehands that this happened to are now out of work for awhile. Did you ever stop and think that there's a chance that those who got injured need financial assistance because of that. And, if so, that is something that goes above and beyond what the union would cover. Local 1 is a strong union, that's for sure. But, at the end of the day they are a union, not universal healthcare. 

[jdrye222]

Posted: 7/6/19 at 4:52am

I need to step in here and defend Hogan (though not completely, regarding workers comp) .... This accident is truly awful and no one is saying that they should not be cared for 100%. But - the fact of the matter is, it was 100% a workplace accident - and worker’s comp is NOT a joke, they are REQUIRED to cover 100% of ANY claims related to the accident. The union will deal with further compensation for lost wages, etc. Any type of knee-jerk “gofundme” campaign or similar, at this point in time, is completely opportunistic and inappropriate, and if anything weakens their case with worker’s comp should any difficulties arise with claim coverage etc.

Updated On: 7/6/19 at 04:52 AM

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/6/19 at 9:10am

@islander, patently, it is you who has no clue. not only is healthcare statutorially provided for, but even were this not a workplace injury, the union trust fund is compensated by benefit funding precisely to provide not just universal health care but much more than is ever envisioned by such a term as it is used in the common vernacular. And if the union is leaving folks in need of charity there is something mightily wrong with that. 

@jdrye When I said it was a joke, I was referring to the wage replacement component not the health care component. The fact is, WC pays, at most, less than $50k for lost wages and that is a joke in terms of keeping someone who must provide for themself and others above water.

[rg7759]

Posted: 7/6/19 at 12:04pm

i think the bigger issue is why are there go fund me's if its not a legitimate charity. im not commenting on this particular instance since the mods will probably delete it, but the culture is to make a go fund me when you dont 'feel' like paying for something. a birthday party, a vacation, these are things people make gofundme's for and its pathetic. again, i am not referring to these workers. is that ok enough not to get deleted?

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 7/6/19 at 4:44pm

HogansHero said: "@islander, patently, it is you who has no clue. not only is healthcarestatutorially provided for, but even were this not a workplace injury, the union trust fund is compensated by benefit fundingprecisely to provide not just universal health care but much more than is ever envisioned by such a term as it is used in the common vernacular. And if the union is leaving folks in need of charity there is something mightily wrong with that.

@jdrye When I said it was a joke, I was referring to the wage replacement component not the health care component. The fact is, WC pays, at most, less than $50k for lost wages and that is a joke in terms of keeping someone who must provide for themself and others above water."

In theory you’re right. But, you ever work on Broadway, been part of any of the theatre unions or anything of that nature? I have  for three years and counting. But ,you’re right in theory the union should be stepping in. But, you don’t know the exact ins and and outs of the contract or what they can provide or what they can’t/won’t provide. Local 1, or any of the theatre unions aren’t all powerful and I can’t even begin to tell you the number of co workers of mine who needed help and felt instead they were getting screwed over for whatever their situation was at the time. So, you clearly aren’t as all knowing as you think you are 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/6/19 at 4:57pm

@Islander, I think you might be surprised what I know, but we don't need to get into that because in essence we are in agreement. You said "the union should be stepping in" and that's all I was saying Whether formally or informally, strong unions don't let their brothers and sisters go begging, and should be ashamed of themselves for putting these obviously in extremis victims in that position. I encourage any members who are reading this to address that internally. 

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 7/6/19 at 5:10pm

MHogansHero said: "@Islander, I think you might be surprised what I know, but we don't need to get into that because in essence we are in agreement. You said "the union should be stepping in" and that's all I was sayingWhether formally or informally, strong unions don't let their brothers and sisters go begging, and should beashamed of themselves for putting these obviously in extremis victims in that position. I encourage any members who are reading this to address that internally."

Was just trying to make the point that, some of the theatre unions, for whatever reason, don’t step up to protect and help their members as best as they can. You’re right, there shouldn’t be the need for a go fund me page. Yet, to me, it comes off as a telling sign that they aren’t protecting their members as strongly as they should. If they were, then there’d be no reason for the go fund me for to begin with.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 7/7/19 at 12:40am

I could be wrong, but it appears as though the GoFundMe was set up as a virtual “passing of the hat,” which is often done in a Union or workplace environment. I’m not sure if the creators intended for it to gain public steam, or even know that it has.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 7/7/19 at 1:10am

trpguyy said: "I could be wrong, but it appears as though the GoFundMe was set up as a virtual “passing of the hat,” which is often done in a Union or workplace environment. I’m not sure if the creators intended for it to gain public steam, or even know that it has. "

Well, it’s raised $$108,673 thus far so that seems pretty public!