Joyce Stagehands Vote To Go Union

Joyce Theater stage technicians voted 12 to zip in a secret ballot this morning (10/26) to designate Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) as their collective bargaining representative in a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)-supervised election.

The vote was 12 to 0 with one ballot voided. The union hopes to begin negotiations shortly on a contract that will be fair to both the stage technicians employed at the Joyce and The Joyce Theater Foundation.

"Joyce Theater Foundation's agreeing to a swift NLRB-supervised vote of its stage technicians for union representation is an act of respect and appreciation for its stagecraft employees," said Local One IATSE President James J. Claffey, Jr. "I applaud them. The Joyce has shown itself to be an organization with enlightened management as they could have engaged in numerous delaying legal maneuvers that would have been expensive for both sides. Instead, the stage technicians spoke and both the Joyce and Local One respect their collective decision."

Local One IATSE filed a petition with the NLRB September 14 after granting Joyce management nearly a month to consider its request for voluntary recognition. Over the summer, a large majority of Joyce stage technicians signed authorization cards empowering Local One IATSE to act as their collective bargaining agent.

NLRB-supervised balloting is familiar territory for stagehands requesting representation at smaller venues in New York City. Last year, after a long, litigious and costly process, stagehands at Lehman College Center for the Performing Arts voted 22 to 0 to be represented by Local One. Those stagehands now work under a contract fair to both labor and management.

For 123 years, Local One < www.iatselocalone.org> has been the premiere stagecraft union of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, representing 3,000 property persons, stage and studio electricians, set carpenters, sound designers, audio technicians, moving-light operators, riggers and special effects people in New York.