Front-of-house and production staffers at four major event venues in Washington, D.C., delivered a petition on Monday calling on management to not interfere with their organizing efforts to join unions.
Workers at the Anthem, 9:30 Club, Lincoln Theatre and the Atlantis marched together to the D.C. office of I.M.P.—the production and promotion company that employs them—in a powerful show of unity and strength. While staff expressed a deep appreciation for the role these event spaces play in the music scene of the nation’s capital, they also emphasized the need for higher wages, more consistent scheduling and better workplace safety. For these reasons, they are calling for card-check agreements as they organize with UNITE HERE Local 25, Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) locals 22 and 868 under the “It's My Union” campaign banner.
“We work at an internationally renowned venue, and we deserve to be treated like we work at an internationally renowned venue. I don’t feel like we are treated with dignity,” said stagehand and audio engineer Lee Reber, who works at The Anthem and I.M.P.’s U Street corridor venues.
“I love working here, but we just want better support from our employer,” said Hunter Spears, who works door staff. “I’ve taken boots to the face. I’ve been thrown up on. I’ve hurt my wrist catching crowd surfers.”
AFL-CIO Daily Brief