Friday, October 08, 2021
Kennedy Center stagehands authorize strike
NPR: Stagehands at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. have voted unanimously to strike if the performing arts center's management imposes what the workers call "draconian cuts and changes to working conditions." According to a statement from the stagehands' union IATSE Local 22, which is part of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, those changes include wage cuts of 40% and the elimination of jobs.
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It is so inspiring to see this strike and the film/TV IATSE strike. It feels like we are at a turning point where the people who for so long have gone unrecognized and undervalued are standing up for themselves and saying, “Our work is important. You need us so pay us.” While yes living wages are important, that is even most people’s main issue. At the end of day quality of life, and workers’ health and well-being are way more important. Consistent meals, consistent sleep, and a predictable schedule are important, and everyone deserves these things. I hope these strikes serve as inspiration for School of Drama who feel like they are unrecognized and undervalued and that they feel empowered to say, “No you need what we provide, you need to treat us with respect.” If these IATSE locals can change their situation for the better, than it’s time we model ourselves after the “real world” and do the same.
The stagehands at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC have voted, authorizing Local 22 executive board the authority to call a strike. IATSE Local 22 is the stagehands’ unions, and according to a statement of theirs, the Kennedy Center have imposed wage cuts of 40% on top of elimination of jobs. Should management not change its position by the end of the week, workers will walk out and strike. With plans for shows to load-in at the Kennedy Center, workers plan on "withholding their labor, and setting up picket lines before the trucks hauling sets, lights, wardrobe, and other production elements". This might be on a smaller scale then the Hollywood and television industry strike, but it still exemplifies two things--firstly, the fact that regardless of size and subset of entertainment, the precedent for working conditions of crew is inhumane, and secondly, that the power to strike is available to all.
I knew the Kennedy Center was a large institution, but I never realized how much federal funding they have received, especially throughout the pandemic. I wonder where all this additional relief has been going, but based on the demands of the stagehands, it doesn't seem like much of it made its way to them. I'm curious to see how events will unfold with the arrival of the upcoming tour, because I'm sure the theatre would not want to cancel those productions. Additionally, if the local crew is striking but not the crew that comes along with the tour, I wonder if there's a possibility they still might try to put it on. (Although this definitely does not seem feasible). I hope the Kennedy Center thinks about enforcing more equitable practices. Especially since they recently celebrated their many past years of work on their anniversary--none of which would've been possible without their hardworking crews.
It is amazing to me that seemingly at every turn the technicians are seen as the means to counter lost revenue. If you do some quick math, including the Kennedy Center’s projected losses they lost a total of $16 Million, but were rewarded $25 Million in federal relief funding. That’s a GAIN of $9 Million. Certainly, there are unseen losses here, but the major point is that it is not the right time to “gut” the contracts of the union that puts on your shows. I am happy to see that the larger Hollywood IATSE strike is getting such great publicity that smaller local Unions have some additional traction to fight for fair wages and hours. We have long been taken advantage of and it seems that that will no longer stand in this industry. I do hope they can come to an agreement before the trucks arrive, but if they don’t, central management may have a better understanding of the importance of the union when those losses continue to grow.
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