Strike Statements From Both Sides - You Decide
Strike Statements From Both Sides - You DecideLate last night, I posted the following statement from Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of The League of American Theatres and Producers issued shortly after it walked away from Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) at the bargaining table in the ongoing Broadway stagehands strike:
In the interest of presenting both sides, I just found the following statement from IATSE spokesperson Bruce Cohen that Playbill said was released at 11 p.m. last evening (the statement is not on Local One's Web site):We are profoundly disappointed to have to tell you that talks broke off with Local One, IATSE tonight, and that no further negotiations are scheduled.
We presented a comprehensive proposal that responded to the union’s concerns about loss of jobs and earnings and attempted to address our need for some flexibilities in running our business. The union rejected our effort to compromise and continues to require us to hire more people than we need.
Out of respect for our public and our loyal theatergoers, many of whom are traveling from around the world, we regret that we must cancel performances through Sunday November 25.
-- Charlotte St. MartinExecutive DirectorThe League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc.
Talks between Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and the League of American Theatres and Producers broke off late this [evening]. Just before the talks broke off, the producers informed Local One that what Local One had offered was simply not enough. The producers then walked out. Local One will have no further comment.As I have since stated, The League's walking away from the bargaining table and promptly announcing that all Broadway shows currently closed would remain so through the entire Thanksgiving holiday weekend is tantamount to behaving like ill-behaved children taking all their marbles away.
This really is a sorry moment in Broadway history. I'd be embarrassed for The League and everyone they purport to represent if I weren't so angry with them.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Refunds, Stagehands, Strike, Ticketmaster
posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Monday, November 19, 2007
12 Comments:
Sad...
Producers Lost Me
If they Cared the would of stayed and talked.
They know that they have $20million that they can use to screw 350 employees.
This fight is bigger than it seems to the eye.
Now they will break all the unions that supported the Stagehands too.
"when did it become 'bad' for American workers to stand up for their jobs?"
I find management's cowardly arrogance both unnecessary and insulting, to say the least.
when you buy a Broadway Theatre ticket, the League of American Theatres and Producers-- the organization publicly complaining/lying about supposed hidden fees for labor-- has been charging you, the public hidden fees.
Lockout fee.
Theatre restoration fee
We are not in the millionaire Investor club.
They don’t care about the public.
As one past blogger wrote
We are just pockets to them
"meat in a tiny seat"
Once the 400 dollar seat was introduced by Mr. Mel Brooks for “The Producers”, I gave up on Broadway. I support: Signature Theatre,Roundabout,MTC,etc.
I definitely support the union. Everyone has their own opinions, but when you really think about it, how many unions today still have the strength to actually strike? Teachers can’t, transit drivers can’t, police officers can’t… the stagehands are not getting a fair contract and even though the effects of them striking are so immediate, people get upset with the union.
Direct your anger, if you must, at those who have profited handsomely by their greed and in the process have made attending a Broadway show a rarity for the middle class. Unions don’t stink: they help works unite against the profit-makers who can’t be vanquished by the needs of the individuals. If you want to see the results of union-busting, just look at the mess the airlines are in thanks to Mr. Reagan and the air-traffic controllers.
Whatever happened to championing the working man in this country? Have we all become so absorbed in the “me” culture that a trip to “The Little Mermaid” becomes more important than making sure individuals can feed their families?
Oh and please sympathize with those poor downtrodden producers who may have to put off buying that summer home in the Hamptons…They might have to take their children out of those private schools…. They are obviously very poor as a result of the horrid investments in those very expensive shows. Sigh get real people. Most stagehands are paying for ONE home, not three. They work through holidays, nights, weekends. It is not a bad living but lets not kid our selves about how many producers are starving right now
As an actress and particularly a British actress from London having played at the Broadhurst Theatre on Broadway last year I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the stagehands who carried out their work with such professionalism and affection for our cast and who made our stay in NY so memorable with their enthusiasm for the play concerned;The History Boys, which I am proud to say took home several Tony Awards with no small thanks to these fellow workers.I support them whole hesartedly in this strike action for better pay and better respect for their hard work.Whilst I sympathise with all audience members who have missed their shows due to the strike I can ony assure you that without these stagehands there would be no show at the best of timess.They are the linchpin to the shows themselves.They are invaluable and further more they oversee our safety in performance at all times.At no point should they be asked to consider on any level a wage-cut.These are hard times for New Yorkers and they need all the financial rewards which in my opnion are their due.God bless them.
Thank you to everyone who has commented on the sorry situation left in the wake of The League walking away from the table. I'll echo what Annamae stated...the producers have lost me.
I'd be very curious to know where everyone stands, including the audience. Please take a moment to vote in the current SOB Poll on the upper right hand side of Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Thank you.
interesting letter from 802
on the local one website
http://www.iatselocalone.org/news/press99.html
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