Tuesday, September 13, 2011
St. Lawrence Centre Locks Out Local 58 Stagehands
IATSE International: On August 13, the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts locked out members of IATSE Local 58, Toronto stagehands. The local had been without a contract at the venue since the previous December. Although the union and the employer had met on a number of occasions, no agreement was reached and the employer determined it would lock out the stagehands, claiming that the local's agreement was unreasonably expensive. Despite Local 58 having offered concessions that would reduce overall labor costs by about ten percent, the employer has not budged.
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5 comments:
It's disappointing to hear such a rigid stance from the management at this place. I think it's good that the union is standing up to them and fighting for reasonable treatment. A 10% reduction in labor costs is pretty substantial, and Toronto seems to have a pretty strong bargaining position because of the strength of surrounding locals and the support of the international. I hope they reach a reasonable compromise without more work interruption than necessary.
this article sounds really biased towards local 58 but at the same time what local 58 said they where willing to take in cuts ie 10 % seems reasonable I would be curious to hear what St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts has to say but if they are using poor ticket sales as a reason to lock out local 58 that sounds like they need to change something in house not with local 58
Last week in SM-II, we discussed the history of labor laws, and the ebbs and flows that our country has gone through in establishing a relatively solid and consistent relationship between management and workers. Through this current example, we are seeing the employer clearly labeled as the "bad guy".
Local 58 has not taken any violent or attacking efforts towards the employer, but due to their vocalization of this issue, they have been locked out of their work place. Because the employer decided to make the first offensive move, they have been deemed as the bad guy (at least on behalf of this author).
My curiosity in this situation stems from the negotiation tactics of the employer. I wonder if they are actually able to meet the wants of the Local, but are unwilling to do so. If that is the case, there is definitely an agreement to be made. But if they are financially unable to do so, we may see this back and forth continue for some time.
While hearing about a strike within the arts is not a very common occurrence, it seems even less common that the employers take similar actions in a lock-out.
As it was said, it makes sense that the article is biased against the employer, this makes sense as the article is put out by IATSE. However, based on the article, I do not think that any of the actions taken go against what is supposed to happen.
I am however surprised that such a significant reduction has not been accepted. 10% is a large amount and to reduce labor costs by more than this would be a significant reduction for all of the workers and would significantly impact way of life.
If this article sounds biased AGAINST local 58, it's likely because it's on IATSE's website. I agree with Ethan that 10% overall is a pretty substantial reduction and it makes me think one of two things is happening: the number 10% is 10% but not ACTUALLY an overall reduction like the article cites or it wouldn't have mattered how much local 58 agreed to reduce and St Lawrence CFA would have locked them out, regardless. I'm curious to know how well or not the event which was picketed went and if mgmt of St Lawrence CFA might now realize that, yes, IA labor is expensive but you get what you pay for...
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