www.broadwayworld.com: Portland Center Stage has announced that it has officially entered into an agreement between PCS and IATSE, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, to provide representation to our Production Staff, a historic step forward in our ongoing commitment to supporting the arts and the skilled professionals who bring our productions to life.
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IATSE has been around since 1893 so it surprises me that theaters are still joining. Unions are something I was first introduced to through history class and the continuing existence of them proves societies need for them. Technicians specifically are still working toward just compensations for all but due to the longevity of this fight it's always a little astounding to read about theaters partnering with long standing Unions like IATSE. I am especially intrigued because Portland Center Stage is the first in Portland to enter into a bargaining agreement with IATSE. When I think of Portland I know they have a somewhat well defined theater community which led me to believe at least one of their theaters had a connection with IATSE. But it's comforting to know that theaters are still trying to establish and enforce precautions that ensure technicians just compensation.
With this past Monday being Labor Day, this article is very fitting! Many people in communities around the United States of America tend to view Labor Day as “just another day off work/school” or the “end of summer.” But I believe that it is important for all of us to know the meaning behind the day and celebrate all of the historic and ongoing movements that workers and their unions pour their hearts and souls into– all for the hope of a better tomorrow. It is so refreshing and empowering to see more and more theatres join agreements with the IATSE. Especially in the theatre, and just the entertainment industry in general, where unions are so, so vitally important to workers. And in an industry where there has been an uptick in movements for progress– it is very satisfying to see progress actually being made!
The importance of unions cannot be overstated. While in some cases unions can be ineffective or not fight for their workers as much as they ought to, the majority of the time they are very useful for defending the basic rights of people who are working under companies that won’t protect them on their own. In a working environment where big companies have extremely capitalist mindsets and focus on paying workers the least they can for the highest amount of labor, this becomes even more necessary. In particular, I truly agree that labor unions are most relevant to companies that involve inherently unsafe working conditions or possible danger, like theater production where there are large machines, heights, and other possible dangers. Protecting workers and fairly compensating them should be every company's highest priority, and unionizing is a great way to start that process for the majority of companies. One day, I hope that we can even move past the need for institutions like labor unions as a society and have better national standards for employee safety and happiness.
Portland Center Stage is one of my home theatrical organizations and has had a profound impact on my path to get to where I am today. I am genuinely so excited to hear this news. For an organization this important to me to take the step to unionize is really exciting. This is something that I’m sure has been in the works for years now, and to see efforts come to fruition is a wonderful thing. The protections and security that the unions help afford are so critical to our industry, and I really hope that this move supports the workers and the company itself in a strong way. PCS’s productions are really one of the key components of what nurtured and continues to nurture my love of theater and what theater can and what we dream it can be and as such, this announcement continues to bring me a lot of joy, and I hope to see the company continue to thrive over the years.
I think I have commented on almost every article I’ve seen about unions. The unions are the backbone of our industry and their continued success in their fighting for the workers is what allows our industry to continue being successful in both the creative work that we create and in the support of our artists. Without these unions and companies like PCS supporting their work, our industry would be unsustainable for the majority of people who work in it and the art that we create would simply not be possible. I’m glad to see that the unions are still going strong and that large, reputable theater companies are still actively trying to support their workers and the union efforts, something that so many large film or other producing companies have seemed reluctant to do as of late. I hope that with this continued support from companies like PCS, the unions will be better able to keep up their fight against producing companies trying to take them down.
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