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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
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They call me "Tater Salad"
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stagehand strike - what are the issues?
I haven't been following too closely -- Can someone give a quick rundown of the issues causing the stagehands to strike? Thanks. 
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Posted 11/20/07 1:03 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
MrsRbk
<3 <3 <3 <3
Member since 1/06 19197 total posts
Name:
Michelle
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Re: stagehand strike - what are the issues?
From what I briefly read last week it's that they have been working without a contract since July. I don't know how much more to the story there is.
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| Posted 11/20/07 1:04 PM |
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mommy0604
My Son is my world...
Member since 10/07 3270 total posts
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Re: stagehand strike - what are the issues?
I heard that the stagehands want the theatre owners to hire more stagehands cuz they need the extra help...
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| Posted 11/20/07 1:07 PM |
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mtnmama
Member since 5/06 4794 total posts
Name:
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Message edited 8/24/2009 2:06:39 PM.
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| Posted 11/20/07 1:07 PM |
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ali120206
2 Boys
Member since 7/06 17795 total posts
Name:
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Re: stagehand strike - what are the issues?
Also, the producers aren't happy about having to pay the stagehands for "idle" time.
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| Posted 11/20/07 1:08 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: stagehand strike - what are the issues?
The union and owners previously had a contract that determined how many stage hands had to be hired for how many hours during the load-in period of a show (this is the time when all of the sets, lighting,etc are being set up in the theater). Under these rules the producers sometimes had to pay for stagehands to be there when there was not enough work for them to do, essentially paying people to do nothing. They want to remake a contract lowering this requirement. The IA is saying no because obviously it helps their people get paid for more hours, but more complicated than that, I think the measure is more of an insurance policy to make sure that if you sign on to a show you are getting enough hours to survive. The tough thing about a life in theater is that once you sign on for a show, you're there for whatever, and once the show ends, you're making zero and have to keep looking, so these measures helped to even that out for stagehands. This is my interpretation. The IA is not my union, so I don't know exactly.
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| Posted 11/20/07 1:08 PM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: stagehand strike - what are the issues?
Thanks, all! I appreciate the information. I was feeling very uninformed about it!
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| Posted 11/20/07 1:12 PM |
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lilacwine
only love...
Member since 5/05 2034 total posts
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<3
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Re: stagehand strike - what are the issues?
Posted by cpanyc
The big issue is that the producer's want more control over how many people they hire for a show. If the union says they need 10, the producers want to be able to disagree and say no we only need 5. It is a job security issue.
It's a safety issue. The work is physically demanding and, if not done properly, can be dangerous. The appropriate number of people are needed to get the work done safely.
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| Posted 11/20/07 1:12 PM |
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mtnmama
Member since 5/06 4794 total posts
Name:
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Message edited 8/24/2009 2:06:54 PM.
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| Posted 11/20/07 1:15 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: stagehand strike - what are the issues?
Posted by cpanyc
Posted by lilacwine
Posted by cpanyc
The big issue is that the producer's want more control over how many people they hire for a show. If the union says they need 10, the producers want to be able to disagree and say no we only need 5. It is a job security issue.
It's a safety issue. The work is physically demanding and, if not done properly, can be dangerous. The appropriate number of people are needed to get the work done safely.
I absolutely agree that it is a safety issue also. But the producers see it as a $$ issue. A worker may be idle for 30 minutes, but 30 minutes later, he may be needed to lift, move or do something.
This is true. There's a LOT of sitting around at load in, but it's punctuated by a lot of hard work as well.
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| Posted 11/20/07 1:20 PM |
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