Local 1 Strikes
Dunkirk NY – So the strike is on, right as the Christmas rush is about to happen. I really have no clue as to how this is going to play out, but this morning I have been cruising the internet looking for background and information. I am not sure which side is in the right, and no doubt like all such disputes I am sure the truth lies somewhere in the middle. One thing I am sure of, however; the mainstream media will not give the striking union members anything like a fair shake. More than likely the cameras will be focused on theatregoers who came from long distances only to find that their kids can’t get in to see Grinch. Boo-hoo.
In the course of my internet journeys, however, I did run into two blogs which I think people should be aware of. The first is The Humble Nailbanger, a blog written by an IATSE member who apparently works in a TV studio and is a third-generation stagehand. The second is One NYC Stagehand, a guy with 30 years backstage experience in Local 1. Both these blogs are relatively new, and I think over the course of the strike will probably provide some interesting feedback (h/t Theatreforte).
I am generally favorable to the concept of unionization, but I am also painfully aware that, like every human activity on the planet, they are as subject to corruption, stubbornness and self-centeredness as any other organization. Local 1, for example, is notorious for being a “family business” – it’s next to impossible to get in that local unless you have a family connection. So I don’t think there’s any purity to this strike: each side is out to get its cut. After all, Broadway is, in this context, nothing more than a business, no different from watching the UAW strike against Ford, Chrysler or GM. There’s no art at stake here, people – only money and profit for each side. -twl
I am with you on this, it seems both sides have major issues that need to be resolved. I could understand the producers wanting to cut costs if they were loosing money but many are profitable. If they said they were doing this to drop ticket prices I might be more supportive. Many of the union rules are not fair. When I was a pm at Chautauqua I had to pay 4 union hands a minimum of 4 hours to load a truck. It never took more than an hour. The rules were established because many theatres across the country abuse there techs but the union needs to give some if the producers will.
my 2cents
Todd P