Union stagehands will be picketing Pearl Jam’s concerts this weekend at the Los Angeles Sports Arena over the facility's use of nonunion stage crews for those shows.
A statement from the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) claims that officials at USC, which the Coliseum Commission recently awarded a contract to operate the Sports Arena and the adjacent L.A. Memorial Coliseum, is hiring nonunion workers, including some from out of state, to staff the Pearl Jam concerts on Saturday and Sunday.
“Unfortunately, the crew members that should be inside making sure this concert is safe are going to be out front on the picket line,” IATSE Local 33 Business Manager Mark Madrigal said in the statement. “We’re not asking for additional wages or benefits. All we are asking is that USC honor the contract that has been in place for decades. Instead USC is ignoring our members and its obligation to its neighbors and to our communities and hire cheaper workers to make more money.”
Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz added, “These facilities are owned by the public, and we have a right to expect that our taxpayer dollars will go to support the Los Angeles economy and good jobs, not line the pockets of USC at the expense of our citizens. USC should stand up and be good corporate citizens in this matter and continue the policy that has worked for decades for all parties.”
A spokeswoman for the band did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The Times.
IATSE members will picket before each night’s show, from about 6 until 7:30 p.m. when the concerts are scheduled to start.
When I first saw this headline I imagined a very camp and theatrical flash mob performance. Slightly disappointed.
RisingTides wrote:There is more kindness on the internet than we would care to admit to ourselves. Sometimes we are so afraid of falling victim to a ruse, we miss out on actual opportunities.
There was a non-union crew working the LA shows I saw in 2006. Ed made mention of it, apologized to the union, and said they supported the strikers. It was a non-issue.
broken iris wrote:There was a non-union crew working the LA shows I saw in 2006. Ed made mention of it, apologized to the union, and said they supported the strikers. It was a non-issue.
this is probably the best way to handle it. maybe dedicate a song to them related to the subject matter in some way.
it would be pretty radical if he snuck one of the union guys back stage and let him give a speech.
I'm expecting the band will make some sort of statement, or show of support in some way.
I remember in '06 there were picketers the the Forum and the band seemed kind of caught off guard, by it.
...and I'd have to go back and listen to the boot, but yes, I believe Unemployable was played for them....
Unemployable is a great song, whatever reason it's played for.
RisingTides wrote:There is more kindness on the internet than we would care to admit to ourselves. Sometimes we are so afraid of falling victim to a ruse, we miss out on actual opportunities.
