Stage Employees Look to Organize Smaller Venues

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Saying that stage employees at all local theaters deserve the same advantages as those working at larger venues, IATSE Local 22 has announced a new organizing drive to unionize “all theatrical stage employees working in smaller theatres, LORT theatres and community theatres,” reports Local 22 President Chuck Clay. “Local 22 views these employees as our working brothers and sisters who are simply unorganized,” Clay told Union City. Founded in 1894, Local 22 represents entertainment technicians and craftpersons in entertainment, including live theatre and events, motion picture and television production, trade shows, meetings and conventions. The campaign is being coordinated by IATSE’s international union.