Local one to start strike meetings 10/21- Page 2
Local one to start strike meetings 10/21
#25re: Local one to start strike meetings 10/21
Posted: 10/15/07 at 12:03am
The negative media though doesn't surprise me one bit. Considering who owns the New York Times now and how the Media has run fairly lockstep in favor of Corporations. Of course they would, they are all owned by Corporations.
My information comes from the being a Union Member and my Ex is still a member of the Electricians Union. My adopted Dad was a Union Chemist who had to live through a three month ugly strike against Shell Oil.
I never said they have hired temporary workers, though it has also been mentioned in articles about the strike, it can be done. They may never have done this on Broadway but you have never endured a very long strike. I am sure though that there is a good amount of non-Union Electricians out there who need a job thanks to our wonderful out-sourcing of jobs, here in America. They may not be uniquely qualified to do the required work but they probably can get by. Would I want this to happen? No. The Producers will pay very big money to hire these people if a long strike takes place. Both of my family members endured this practice and it happens all of the time with our Retail Unions out here in California.
No one is above ever being replaced. It happens on Broadway all of the time, especially among Actors. The question here is, is it in the best interest of the Companies to do so and can they really get away with it without angering the General Public? Neither side can answer that questions well. Though I would hope it wouldn't be stood for. Considering how many Americans hold Union jobs in this Country. Even those who don't owe a certain level of respect for those who are willing to labor hard to give us the things that we need.
It is obvious the Producers know they can get the work done cheaper. They will sacrifice efficiency over experience if they can get away with it. We know that a well qualified Electrician will take a hike the minute they find a better paying job also. So in the long run, the Producers are just being stupid. They know what they have works and has been profitable for everyone. Investors need to do more research if they continue to invest in mere flops. Making the Stagehands pay for their incompetence is a weak move from cowards.
The determining factor and why it probably has never come to replacements of techs on Broadway is the unity between Actors, Musicians and Stagehands. If they stand together, as they should, then yes, the strike will be short lived and hopefully negotiated quickly. So far, I have read that this is the case and I hope it stands. I don't want anyone to lose a paycheck but I don't want to see more Union Busting going on because too much power has shifted in the opposite direction already.
#26re: Local one to start strike meetings 10/21
Posted: 10/15/07 at 12:02pm
"also, the "10 day" thing refers to the notice given to the members that a special meeting is being called. So the 10 day period expires -- rather than starts -- on the 21st."
"According to union regulations, Local One's ability to call a strike normally requires not only membership approval but also subsequent authorization from the international leadership of umbrella union IATSE."
I think the International leadership's authorization is the 'ten days after the strike vote' that a number of sites were reporting.
B'way stagehands set up strike vote
worrell4077
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/04
#27re: Local one to start strike meetings 10/21
Posted: 10/15/07 at 8:43pmI'm sorry if this is a stupid question or if it's been asked before, but if there is a strike, would it affect anything running off-Broadway? I'm only asking because I have tickets for Frankenstein on the 27th.
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#28re: Local one to start strike meetings 10/21
Posted: 10/15/07 at 8:48pmNope, Off-Broadway has different contracts with the union (as do the not-for-profit Broadway houses like the Biltmore, Beaumont, American Airlines and Studio 54, as well as the Hilton) so it's completely unaffected by the strike.
henryt
Broadway Star Joined: 7/26/07
#29re: Local one to start strike meetings 10/21
Posted: 10/15/07 at 8:50pmDon't forget the New Amsterdam!
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#30re: Local one to start strike meetings 10/21
Posted: 10/15/07 at 8:59pmYes, of course.
musicaltheater1
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/05
#31re: Local one to start strike meetings 10/21
Posted: 10/15/07 at 9:51pmBetter not have a lock out on Lea Salonga's last day in Les Miz!
"After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." Aldous Huxley
#32re: Local one to start strike meetings 10/21
Posted: 10/15/07 at 9:55pmSo as a completely uninformed and unaffiliated party - I'm going to ask a dumb question - does this mean that they could potentially be on strike as soon as the 22nd?
bugmenot
Understudy Joined: 3/22/05
#33re: Local one to start strike meetings 10/21
Posted: 10/15/07 at 11:36pm
> I think the International leadership's authorization is the 'ten
> days after the strike vote' that a number of sites were
> reporting.
that is not correct. the 10-day notice is internal within local one.
Hypothetically? Could a strike happen on the 21st or 22nd? Yes. But it's unlikely. The union wants a negotiated deal. It's the producers who have decided to "take their ball and go home". From what I've been told, the league took about 30 seconds to look at the last offer proposed by the union and then walked out of the room.
#34re: Local one to start strike meetings 10/21
Posted: 10/16/07 at 12:11am
I'm so sorry to hear this bugmenot. Thank you though for keeping us all informed. Hang in there. I think most of public is behind all of you.
The Producers really need to remember who it is that makes them successful instead of stabbing themselves in the eye over issues like this.
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#35re: Local one to start strike meetings 10/21
Posted: 10/16/07 at 1:04am
Last word my Union heard was that the International, which is the last word will not sanction a strike.
This is all so messy, but as it is dragging on and on they lose momentum, any stoppage will look bad on anyone's part.
#36re: Local one to start strike meetings 10/21
Posted: 10/16/07 at 1:21amI'm just banking on seeing A BRONX TALE on the 22nd. I mean, I bought these tickets well in advance, front row dontcha know, and it'll be my first show of the fall. In full, it'd be a damn shame if I can't get it in.
#37re: Local one to start strike meetings 10/21
Posted: 10/16/07 at 2:01am
Really? I can't believe International is tying their hands like this. I don't know anyone who wants a strike but what do you do when your requests are thrown back at you?
I agree, it has gone on too long. I can only imagine the stress this is putting on the workers. I am looking forward to see what International's explanation is for doing something like that.
#38re: Local one to start strike meetings 10/21
Posted: 10/17/07 at 1:37am
"Broadway producers and theater owners announced yesterday that they were imposing portions of their final contract offer on the stagehands beginning Monday.
That decision, coming while talks between the producers and Local 1, the stagehands’ union, are at a standstill, may increase the possibility of a strike, which would leave most of Broadway dark.
The portions being implemented are some of the proposed new rules that give producers flexibility in deciding when stagehands are needed, and how many are needed. The wage increases in the offer will not take effect."
Producers Impose Rules; Broadway Closer to Strike
#39re: Local one to start strike meetings 10/21
Posted: 10/17/07 at 1:50am
Playbill also has an article on this and continues to state the following:
"The Oct. 21 meeting will set off a ten-day strike authorization process, which I.A.T.S.E.'s constitution states is necessary in order to allow members enough time to consider the implications of a strike."
Playbill reported that before while others have stated that another ten-day process is not necessary and that the ten day process actually started on the 12th.
I must say that the reporting on this has been pretty poor. Half of the sites have said one thing while the other half have stated something else and then there the "experts" on this site who have chimed in, with authority.
I guess we will all have to wait to see what in fact will actually happen.
League to Implement Portions of Offer Rejected by Union Beginning Oct. 22
MaronaDavies
Featured Actor Joined: 3/17/06
#40re: Local one to start strike meetings 10/21
Posted: 10/17/07 at 3:05amWould the union have any other recourse besides a strike if they were forced to work under a contract they didn't accept? Is this something that could be taken to the National Labor Review Board or some other official third party arbitration?
#41re: Local one to start strike meetings 10/21
Posted: 10/17/07 at 8:30am#42re: Local one to start strike meetings 10/21
Posted: 10/17/07 at 8:45am
"The membership will decide how they want to proceed on this," Cohen said. "There are many different avenues we can pursue, but, at this point, we are not going to do anything that would disrupt the theatergoing public."
Broadway Producers to Impose Last Offer
#43re: Local one to start strike meetings 10/21
Posted: 10/17/07 at 12:28pm
Thank you everyone. Now I remember where I got the "ten days" from. I'm reading the articles before I post and I agree, they are somewhat misleading. That is why I like reading what the workers here have to say too.
Another poster here explained how arbitration goes on now. Go up a little bit further in the posts. I would really like to see a third party involved but often times it does go against the Union, so I think that is causing a delay. If it does come to a strike then the Mayor will get involved. Mayor Bloomberg is fairly centrist so I'm not sure which direction he will go with negotiations.
Fosse76
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/21/05
#44re: Local one to start strike meetings 10/21
Posted: 10/17/07 at 12:46pm
They may have no choice but to strike. If the League enforces its own contract provisions and the stagehands start working under those conditions, then legally it is an acceptance of those terms and is the de facto Agreement, which the Union will have no choice but to work under.
As far as I know, the NLRB would not be involved since at this time there is no contract dispute (because there is no contract). They would only get involved if there were some type of illegal activity going on (i.e., the League strong-arming union members or threatening union members).
As for arbitration, both sides have to agree to it, since arbitrations are binding (by way of contract...they are not legal precedence and are only binding to the parties involved).
#45re: Local one to start strike meetings 10/21
Posted: 10/18/07 at 11:14am
Strike question - would City Center be affected by a strike if it happens? I have tickets to see ABT next Friday night and was curious.
Thanks.
Fosse76
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/21/05
#46re: Local one to start strike meetings 10/21
Posted: 10/18/07 at 11:18amWhy would City Centre be affected? It's not a Broadway theatre.
ashley0139
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/3/05
#47re: Local one to start strike meetings 10/21
Posted: 10/18/07 at 11:39am
This may be a stupid question, but if it happens, will the strike affect tours? I would think it would affect any Broadway/equity tours. Or is it just the actual theatre? I don't know about the ins and outs of this stuff. Anyone?
#48re: Local one to start strike meetings 10/21
Posted: 10/18/07 at 12:17pmWhy would City Center be affected? Well they do use stagehands, don't they?
#49re: Local one to start strike meetings 10/21
Posted: 10/18/07 at 12:40pmOnce again...for those who don't bother to read the previous posts. Right now this is only affecting about 20 broadway theaters.
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