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ties in Stagecraft since the Summer Board<br />
meeting in Hollywood, Florida.<br />
As will be reported elsewhere, the Canadian<br />
Department is actively engaged in<br />
a number of organizing campaigns and<br />
assisting eleven local unions in bargaining.<br />
The highlight of this activity was<br />
the overwhelming victory achieved by<br />
Local B-173 when it won a three-way vote<br />
against the Canadian Union of Public<br />
Employees, the largest union in Canada,<br />
and a non-union option to secure the<br />
bargaining rights for 265 front-of-house<br />
employees working at the three theatres<br />
and managed by the City of Toronto. The<br />
level of support by the members of the<br />
Local, and other Toronto IA Locals was<br />
inspiring. A separate report will provide<br />
more details on this important victory.<br />
The International recently concluded<br />
negotiations for the renewal of the International<br />
agreement with PDK, which<br />
services a number of venues throughout<br />
Southern Ontario. The International was<br />
first introduced to PDK when Spectra<br />
Venue Management took over the management<br />
of the Oshawa General Motors<br />
Arena and PDK had been the labour supplier.<br />
The venue fell under IA jurisdiction<br />
the employees of PDK were brought into<br />
membership to continue servicing the<br />
venue and the International subsequently<br />
entered into an agreement with PDK for<br />
all their other work in non-union venues.<br />
This is the third renewal of the agreement<br />
with PDK. It is for a three-year<br />
term, with substantial rate increases. In<br />
addition to the rate increases, the deal<br />
also sees improved overtime structure,<br />
over-scale rates for out-of-town work,<br />
reinforced meal penalties and an increase<br />
to retirement contributions. The General<br />
Executive Board ratified this agreement in<br />
December of 2017.<br />
Canadian Pink Contracts<br />
The International has completed bargaining<br />
with thirteen of the sixteen signatory<br />
companies to the <strong>IATSE</strong> Canadian<br />
Pink Agreement. The remaining three<br />
companies will conclude when preparing<br />
to tour. The International continues its<br />
outreach program to Canadian traveling<br />
tours, with representatives meeting the<br />
crews of every touring production.<br />
Local Union reports<br />
The International is continuing<br />
to compile Local Stage agreements in<br />
Canada and input them into the International<br />
Database. To date, the Department<br />
has provided 156 local union agreements.<br />
Now, the Department is working<br />
with IT Administrator Jimmy Rainey and<br />
WinMill to install alerts to give notice 120<br />
days prior to the expiration of the Local<br />
agreements.<br />
This exercise identified other areas in<br />
which the International can collect, and<br />
make readily available, data relating to<br />
our local unions.<br />
This information will be updated on a<br />
regular basis and tracked with the goal of<br />
helping the Canadian Department better<br />
identify opportunities to assist our local<br />
unions and manage the International’s<br />
resources more efficiently.<br />
Representative Bateman reported on<br />
his assignment to assist Local 15 in its organizing<br />
efforts with Rhino in the Pacific<br />
Northwest. After numerous legal challenges,<br />
Local 15 has prevailed in its efforts<br />
to be the certified representative of Rhino<br />
riggers. Working in conjunction with<br />
Locals 28, 93 and 675, Local 15 has constituted<br />
a bargaining committee comprised<br />
of Rhino riggers and is preparing for negotiations.<br />
Representative Bateman also<br />
reported on his assignment to work on<br />
organizing with Local 51 in Houston, TX.<br />
The Local has hosted several Continuing<br />
Organizing Membership Education<br />
Training (COMET) sessions. Representative<br />
Bateman also reported on his assignment<br />
to assist Local 205 in their organizing<br />
efforts at the Zach Theater. The Local<br />
filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) alleging<br />
discriminatory firing of one of the<br />
union supporters. At the same time, the<br />
Local sought support from local politicians.<br />
The ULP was settled in favor of<br />
the fired worker with back pay and reemployment.<br />
The city council also expressed<br />
its support. Representative Bateman reported<br />
on the successful conclusion of<br />
negotiations between Local 28, Portland,<br />
OR and the Moda Center. The Local was<br />
successful in obtaining wage and benefit<br />
increases while fending off concessionary<br />
demands by the employer. Representative<br />
Bateman reported on the growth of Local<br />
154, Ashland, OR. The Local is aggressively<br />
protecting its contract with the Oregon<br />
Shakespeare Festival and continues outreach<br />
to unrepresented workers employed<br />
by the Festival. The Local is also obtaining<br />
employment for its members from<br />
other theatrical employers in the area.<br />
Representative Bateman also reported on<br />
his organizing efforts with Locals 7 and<br />
719 in Denver, CO. Those Locals won an<br />
election to represent the regional theater<br />
employees of the Denver Center for the<br />
Performing Arts. During the negotiations<br />
for a first contract, the Locals obtained<br />
significant improvements in wages, benefits,<br />
and conditions.<br />
24 OFFICIAL BULLETIN
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